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Staphylococcal Exfoliative Toxins Cleave α- and β-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Staphylococcal Exfoliative Toxins Cleave α- and β-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones

James V Rago, Gregory M Vath, Timothy J Tripp, Gregory A Bohach, Douglas H Ohlendorf and Patrick M Schlievert
Infection and immunity, Vol.68(4), pp.2366-2368
Note
04/2000
DOI: 10.1128/IAI.68.4.2366-2368.2000
PMCID: PMC97430
PMID: 10722646
url
https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.68.4.2366-2368.2000View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

The staphylococcal exfoliative toxins (ETs) A and B (ETA and ETB) are 27-kDa exotoxins produced by certain strains of Staphylococcus aureus and are the causative agents of staphylococcal scalded-skin syndrome. The crystal structures of the ETs strongly indicate that the proteins are members of the serine protease family of enzymes, although protease activity until now has not yet been conclusively demonstrated. Here, we show that the peptide β-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (β-MSH) is cleaved by ETA and that both ETA and ETB are capable of cleaving α-MSH. Both toxins exhibit cleavage at specific glutamic acid residues in MSH peptides. Moreover, biologically inactive mutants of ETA were incapable of cleaving β-MSH.
Molecular and Cellular Pathogenesis

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