Pathogenic effects of glucosyltransferase from Clostridium difficile toxins

摘要

The glucosyltransferase domain of Clostridium difficile toxins modifies guanine nucleotide-binding proteins of Rho family. It is the major virulent domain of the holotoxins. Various pathogenic effects of C. difficile toxins in response to Rho glucosylation have been investigated including cytoskeleton damage, cell death and inflammation. The most recent studies have revealed some significant characteristics of the holotoxins that are independent of glucosylating activity. These findings arouse discussion about the role of glucosyltransferase activity in toxin pathogenesis and open up new insights for toxin mechanism study. In this review, we summarize the pathogenic effects of glucosyltransferase domain of the toxins in the past years.