The A1 subunits of Shiga toxin 1 (Stx1A1) and Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2A1) interact with the conserved C termini of ribosomal-stalk P-proteins to remove a specific adenine from the sarcin/ricin loop. We previously showed that Stx2A1 has higher affinity for the ribosome and higher catalytic activity than Stx1A1. To determine if conserved arginines at the distal face of the active site contribute to the higher affinity of Stx2A1 for the ribosome, we mutated Arg172, Arg176, and Arg179 in both toxins. We show that Arg172 and Arg176 are more important than Arg179 for the depurination activity and toxicity of Stx1A1 and Stx2A1. Mutation of a single arginine reduced the depurination activity of Stx1A1 more than that of Stx2A1. In contrast, mutation of at least two arginines was necessary to reduce depurination by Stx2A1 to a level similar to that of Stx1A1. R176A and R172A/R176A mutations eliminated interaction of Stx1A1 and Stx2A1 with ribosomes and with the stalk, while mutation of Arg170 at the active site reduced the binding affinity of Stx1A1 and Stx2A1 for the ribosome, but not for the stalk. These results demonstrate that conserved arginines at the distal face of the active site are critical for interactions of Stx1A1 and Stx2A1 with the stalk, while a conserved arginine at the active site is critical for non-stalk-specific interactions with the ribosome. Arginine mutations at either site reduced ribosome interactions of Stx1A1 and Stx2A1 similarly, indicating that conserved arginines are critical for ribosome interactions but do not contribute to the higher affinity of Stx2A1 for the ribosome.
Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is an emerging foodborne and waterborne pathogen responsible for hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and hemorrhagic colitis (HC), which are the leading causes of acute renal failure and mortality in children in the United States (1). STEC serotypes, such as E. coli O157:H7, are associated with severe disease (2). Antibiotics are known to exacerbate the disease symptoms, and at present, there are no FDA-approved vaccines or therapeutics against STEC infection (3-5). STEC produces a family of structurally and functionally related virulence factors called Shiga toxins, the most predominant ones being Shiga toxin 1 (Stx1) and Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2) (6). Stx2 and Stx1 have one prototype (Stx1a and Stx2a) and several subtypes. Stxs are type II ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) with a catalytically active A subunit attached to a pentamer of B subunits. The B subunits facilitate the endocytosis of the toxins into the cell by binding to a common receptor globotriaosylceramide (GB3 or CD77). The toxin travels in a retrograde manner from the endosome to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via the Golgi network (7). In order to intoxicate the cell, the A subunit is cleaved into the A1 fragment and the A2 fragment, which remain together via a disulfide bond. After reduction of the disulfide bond, the A1 fragment is translocated into the cytosol from the ER, where it refolds into an active confor...