Bacterial Protein Toxins as Tools in Cell Biology and Physiology

Bacterial protein toxins constitute a remarkable toolbox to explore the biology of host cells owing to their capacities to pinpoint key regulators of cellular processes and consequences of their deregulation. Study of bacterial toxins still remain of great promise to unveil new biochemical activities of virulence factors shared by eukaryotic enzymes, biomechanical principles shaping the architecture of cells and tissues, as well as hidden rules of membrane and proteome homeostasis. We describe the different modes of action of well characterized bacterial toxins, showing the remarkable convergence of their action on components of the actin cytoskeleton, cyclic nucleotide signaling pathways and vesicular trafficking. We further discuss how studying cell protective responses to stresses triggered by bacterial toxins on the integrity of DNA, membranes and proteome will help decipher critical circuits implicated in infection and the development of late-onset diseases.