炭疽毒素及其克隆受体的研究进展

综述炭疽毒素研究的最新进展，炭疽毒素由3种蛋白组成：致死因子（L ethal factor,LF)，水肿因子(edema factor,EF)和保护性抗原（protective antigen,PA)，本文主要讲述了炭疽毒素的关键致病因子－致死因子（LF）的结构和功能，炭疽素受体（anthrax toxin receptor,ATR）的结构及其特征性功能基团，介绍了通过基因互补对ATR进行克隆的方法，并讨论了ATR和ATR的cDNA克隆在炭疽治疗的可能应用。

PROGRESS ON THE ANTHRAX TOXIN AND THE CELLULAR CLONE RECEPTOR FOR ANTHRAX TOXIN

To provide wide-ranging access to the latest scientific information about anthrax, we have reviewed the recent progress of the study of the anthrax toxin. The anthrax toxin made up of three proteins: protective antigen (PA), edema factor (EF) and lethal factor (LF). PA binds to cell-surface receptors on the host's cell membranes. After being cleaved by a protease, PA bonds to the two toxic enzymes, EF and LF, and mediates their transportation into the cytosol where they exert their pathogenic effects. The crystal structure of lethal factor - the crucial pathogenic enzyme of anthrax toxin was described. And the cloning of the human PA receptor using a genetic complementation approach was discussed. As both PA and LF are possible targets for therapeutic agents, this paper provides valuable information to researchers working towards better treatments for anthrax.