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. 1996 Mar;64(3):1020–1025. doi: 10.1128/iai.64.3.1020-1025.1996

Evidence that a region(s) of the Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin molecule remains exposed on the external surface of the mammalian plasma membrane when the toxin is sequestered in small or large complexes.

J F Kokai-Kun 1, B A McClane 1
PMCID: PMC173873  PMID: 8641752

Abstract

In studies performed to investigate the topology of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) when this toxin is associated with intestinal brush border membrane (BBMs), it was shown that radiolabeled CPE antibodies react more strongly against intact CPE-treated BBMs than against control BBMs. Immunoprecipitation studies then demonstrated that CPE antibodies are able to react with both small and large CPE-containing complexes while these complexes are still present in intact BBMs. Therefore, at least a portion of the CPE molecule appears to remain surface exposed in BBMs throughout the action of this toxin.

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Selected References

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