Cytosolic Delivery and Characterization of the TcdB Glucosylating Domain by Using a Heterologous Protein Fusion

TcdB from Clostridium difficile glucosylates small GTPases (Rho, Rac, and Cdc42) and is an important virulence factor in the human disease pseudomembranous colitis. In these experiments, in-frame genetic fusions between the genes for the 255 amino-terminal residues of anthrax toxin lethal factor (LFn) and the TcdB(1-556) coding region were constructed, expressed, and purified from Escherichia coli. LFnTcdB(1-556) was enzymatically active and glucosylated recombinant RhoA, Rac, Cdc42, and substrates from cell extracts. LFnTcdB(1-556) plus anthrax toxin protective antigen intoxicated cultured mammalian cells and caused actin reorganization and mouse lethality, all similar to those caused by wild-type TcdB.