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Abstract
Bordetella dermonecrotic toxin (DNT) is a virulence factor produced by bacteria belonging to the genus Bordetella including B. pertussis, B. parapertussis, and B. bronchiseptica. Intensive studies have clarified the structure and function of DNT in the last decade long after its discovery by Bordet and Gengou (Citation). DNT is a single-chain polypeptide composed of 1464 amino acids and possesses novel transglutaminase activity that catalyzes polyamination or deamidation of the small GTPases of the Rho family. The modified GTPases lose their GTP hydrolyzing activity, function as a constitutive active molecule, and continuously transduce signals to downstream effectors, which mediate various abnormal phenotypes in intoxicated cells.