Purification and cytotoxic properties of Bacillus cereus hemolysin II

Zhanna I. Andreeva, Vladimir F. Nesterenko, Igor S. Yurkov, Zhanna I. Budarina, Elena V. Sineva, Alexander S. Solonin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

53 Scopus citations

Abstract

The hemolysin II from Bacillus cereus, HlyII, is a member of the β-barrel pore-forming toxin family of secreted microbial proteins that includes the Staphylococcus aureus α-toxin. Compared with other proteins of the family, hemolysin II has 90 extra amino acids at its C-terminus. To examine more closely the cytotoxic and pore-forming properties of the protein, we have cloned and expressed it in Escherichia coli. We developed a purification procedure for the matured HlyII protein from both culture media and cell extracts using a combination of cation exchange and affinity chromatography together with gel-filtration. In both cases, the fully processed HlyII protein was purified as confirmed by N-terminal sequence analysis. The HlyII protein exhibits cytolytic activity of different extent on erythrocytes from various kinds of mammals. The results presented here show for the first time that two types of human cells are sensitive to HlyII action. In view of its broad cytotoxic activity as well as the ability to interact with artificial membranes, we assume that HlyII needs no specific receptor to bind to cell membranes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)186-193
Number of pages8
JournalProtein Expression and Purification
Volume47
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2006

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biotechnology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Purification and cytotoxic properties of Bacillus cereus hemolysin II'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this