Medical Condition:
Cholera Exotoxin
The enterotoxin from Vibrio cholerae. It is a protein that consists of two major components, the heavy (H) or A peptide and the light (L) or B peptide or choleragenoid. The B peptide anchors the protein to intestinal epithelial cells, while the A peptide, enters the cytoplasm, and activates adenylate cyclase, and production of cAMP. Increased levels of cAMP are thought to modulate release of fluid and electrolytes from intestinal crypt cells.