Weerachon Tepanant. Investigation of folding pathway of CYT2Aa2 insecticidal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis. Master's Degree(Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2004.
Investigation of folding pathway of CYT2Aa2 insecticidal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis
Abstract:
Cytolytic or Cyt toxin is a class of mosquitocidal toxins which are produced
from Bacillus thuringiensis. The Cyt toxins exhibit specific toxicity against mosquito
larvae in vivo and broad-spectrum activity against other cells in vitro. In this work, we
have studied the folding pathway of Cyt2Aa2 protoxin produced from B. thuringiensis
subsp. darmstadiensis. The protein was expressed in E. coli and purified on a
chromatographic column. Size exclusion analysis indicated the monomeric form of the
native state after purification. Equilibrium unfolding and refolding of the protein were
performed by incubating the protein in various concentrations of the chemical
denaturant, guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl). The folding curves showed a three-state
folding in both pathways. This suggests that it might be a simple reversed pathway of
Native ↔ Intermediate ↔ Unfold. Thermodynamic free energy of the 1st and 2nd
transition was estimated to be 5-6 and 11-16 kcal/mol, respectively. Kinetic unfolding
data revealed that the 2nd transition was the rate-determining step with a unfolding rate
of 5.83x10-10 sec-1. Structural characterization by fluorescence, circular dichroism and
ANS binding assay indicated specific characteristics of molten globule structure of the
intermediate state. This molten globule might display an important role in molecular
folding and toxin function.