Common architecture of Tc toxins from human and insect pathogenic bacteria

Bacteria have established various strategies to infect organisms. Some inject their poison by applying a special toxin complex, the TC Toxin. It consists of the three components TcA, TcB and TcC. In this work the Rauser group presents high-resolution structures of five TcAs from insect and human pathogens, which show a similar overall composition and domain organization. Essential structural features suggest a common mechanism of action. All TcAs form functional pores and can be combined with TcB-TcC subunits from other species to form active chimeric holotoxins.