Cholera Toxin A Subunit from Vibrio cholerae has been used as a specific probe for trimeric G proteins in membrane motility assays.
Cholera Toxin (CT) is secreted by Vibrio cholerae. CT upregulates cell surface molecules, such as co-stimulatory molecules and chemokine receptors in antigen presenting cells(APCs), murine and human dendritic cells (DCs). It enhances the secretion of interleukin 1 (IL-1) from macrophages and stimulates their APC function. CT also functions as an immunomodulator. It is associated with watery diarrhoea, which is characteristic of cholera infection.
Catalyzes ADP-ribosylation of the α-subunit of G proteins, reducing GTPase activity and activating the α-subunit; also catalyzes ADP-ribosylation of cell membrane adenylyl cyclase