A Study of the Inactivation of Protein Toxin (Bacterial Toxin) with Formaldehyde

摘要

Purified tetanus toxin was obtained from culture filtrates and extracts of cells. Diphtheria toxin was purified from culture filtrates. The toxins were characterized by biological and physiochemical methods. The toxins were modified by interaction with formaldehyde and other chemical reagents. It was determined that formaldehyde induces conformational changes, that it alters the amino acid composition of the toxins, and that radioactive formaldehyde was not selectively introduced into groups which might be responsible for toxicity. This study provides additional information regarding the mechanisms by which formaldehyde inactivates bacterial toxins.