Abstract
SUPERANTIGENS stimulate T cells bearing particular T-cell receptor Vβ sequences1,2, so they are extremely potent polyclonal T-cell mitogens. T-cell activation is preceded by binding of superantigens to class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules3. To further the structural characterization of these interactions, the crystal structure of a toxin associated with toxic-shock syndrome, TSST-1, which is a microbial superantigen, has been determined at 2.5 Å resolution. The N- and C-terminal domains of the structure both contain regions involved in MHC class II association; the C-terminal domain is also implicated in binding the T-cell receptor. Despite low sequence conservation, the TSST-1 topology is similar to the structure reported for the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B4. But TSST-1 lacks several of the structural features highlighted as central to superantigen activity in the staphylococcal enterotoxin B and we therefore reappraise the structural basis of superantigen action.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
White, J. et al. Cell 56, 27–35 (1989).
Janeway, C. A. et al. Immun. Rev. 107, 61–88 (1989).
Fleischer, B. & Schrezenmeier, H. J. exp. Med. 167, 1697–1707 (1988).
Swaminathan, S. et al. Nature 359, 801–806 (1992).
Marrack, P. & Kappler, J. Science 248, 705–711 (1990).
Murzin, A. G. Nature 360, 635 (1992).
Edwin, C. et al. J. infect. Dis. 163, 524–529 (1991).
Soos, J. M. et al. Biochem. biophys. Res. Commun. 191, 1211–1217 (1993).
Edwin, C. & Kass, E. H. Infect. Immun. 57, 2230–2236 (1989).
Bonventre, P. F. et al. Infect. Immun. 56, 135–141 (1988).
Blanco, L. et al. Infect. Immun. 58, 3020–3028 (1990).
Bonventre, P. F. et al. Infect. Immun. 61, 793–799 (1993).
Murray, D. L. et al. Abstr. 93rd gen. Mtg Am. Soc. Microbiol., Atlanta, Georgia, 64 (1993).
Spero, L., Johnson-Winegar, A. & Schmidt, J. J. in Bacterial Toxins, Handbook of Natural Toxins Vol. 4 (eds Hardegree M. C. & Tu A. T.) 131–163 (1988).
Griggs, N. D. et al. J. Immun. 148, 2516–2521 (1992).
Pontzer, C. H., Russell, J. K. & Johnson, H. M. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 125–128 (1991).
Kappler, J. W. et al. J. exp. Med. 175, 387–396 (1992).
Irwin, M. J. et al. Nature 359, 841–843 (1992).
Braunstein, N. S. et al. J. exp. Med. 175, 1301–1305 (1992).
Panina-Bordingnon, P. et al. J. exp. Med. 176, 1779–1784 (1992).
Pullen, A. M. et al. Cell 61, 1365–1374 (1990).
Pullen, A. M. et al. J. exp. Med. 173, 1183–1192 (1991).
Woodland, D. L. & Blackman, M. A. Immun. Today 14, 208–212 (1993).
Passalacqua, E. F. et al. J. molec. Biol. 228, 983–986 (1992).
Jones, E. Y., Walker, N. P. C. & Stuart, D. I. Acta crystallogr. A47, 753–770 (1991).
Jones, A. Meth. Enzym. 115, 157–171 (1985).
Brünger, A. T., Kuriyan, J. & Karplus, M. Science 235, 458–460 (1987).
Bjorkman, P. J. & Davis, M. M. Cold Spring Harb. Symp. quant. Biol. LIV, 365–373 (1989).
Choi, Y. et al. Nature 346, 471–473 (1990).
Brown, J. H. et al. Nature 364, 33–39 (1993).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Acharya, K., Passalacqua, E., Jones, E. et al. Structural basis of superantigen action inferred from crystal structure of toxic-shock syndrome toxin-1. Nature 367, 94–97 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/367094a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/367094a0
This article is cited by
-
Biological analysis of the deletion mutants of Staphylococcal enterotoxin C2
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (2009)
-
Functional analysis of the disulphide loop mutant of staphylococcal enterotoxin C2
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (2009)
-
Bacterial toxins and their application
Molecular Biology (2000)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.