Functional analysis of the carboxy-terminal domain of Bacillus anthracis protective antigen.

Protective antigen (PA) is the common receptor-binding component of the two anthrax toxins. We investigated the involvement of the PA carboxy-terminal domain in the interaction of the protein with cells. A deletion resulting in removal of the entire carboxy-terminal domain of PA (PA608) or part of an exposed loop of 19 amino acids (703 to 722) present within this domain was introduced into the pag gene. PA608 did not induce the lethal-factor (LF)-mediated cytotoxic effect on macrophages because it did not bind to the receptor. In contrast, PA711- and PA705-harboring lethal toxins (9- and 16-amino-acid deletions in the loop, starting after positions 711 and 705, respectively) were 10 times less cytotoxic than wild-type PA. After cleavage by trypsin, the mutant PA proteins formed heptamers and bound LF. The capacity of PA711 and PA705 to interact with cells was 1/10 that of wild-type PA. In conclusion, truncation of the carboxy-terminal domain or deletions in the exposed loop resulted in PA that was less cytotoxic or nontoxic because the mutated proteins did not efficiently bind to the receptor.