Cellular Entry of Clostridium perfringens Iota-Toxin and Clostridium botulinum C2 Toxin

Abstract

Clostridium perfringens iota-toxin and Clostridium botulinum C2 toxin are composed of two non-linked proteins, one being the enzymatic component and the other being the binding/translocation component. These latter components recognize specific receptors and oligomerize in plasma membrane lipid-rafts, mediating the uptake of the enzymatic component into the cytosol. Enzymatic components induce actin cytoskeleton disorganization through the ADP-ribosylation of actin and are responsible for cell rounding and death. This review focuses upon the recent advances in cellular internalization of clostridial binary toxins.

Keywords

• clostridial binary toxin
• iota-toxin
• C2 toxin
• cellular internalization