Some strains of bacteria or microorganisms have developed toxins that can modify the activity of the alpha subunit of G proteins which results in disease. For ex. cholera toxin, produced by Vibrio cholerae, causes ADP ribosylation of the stimulatory Gαs subunit of G proteins. This modification abolishes the GTPase of Gαs, and results in an αs subunit that is always in the “on” or active state. It results in continuous stimulation of adenylyl cyclase (AC). The main cells affected by this are the epithelial cell in gastrointestinal tract. Knowing this altered activity of AC, explain why patients affected by this toxin experience severe diarrhea and dehydration that may result in death.
Some strains of bacteria or microorganisms have developed toxins that can modify the activity of the alpha subunit of G proteins which results in disease. For ex. cholera toxin, produced by Vibrio cholerae, causes ADP ribosylation of the stimulatory Gαs subunit of G proteins. This modification abolishes the GTPase of Gαs, and results in an αs subunit that is always in the “on” or active state. It results in continuous stimulation of adenylyl cyclase (AC). The main cells affected by this are the epithelial cell in gastrointestinal tract.
Knowing this altered activity of AC, explain why patients affected by this toxin experience severe diarrhea and dehydration that may result in death.
Adenylyl cyclase
It's the enzyme that converts adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to cyclic AMP (cAMP). Cyclic AMP serves as a second messenger, relaying extracellular signals to intracellular effectors such as protein kinase A.
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