Cholera enterotoxin subunit B (CTB)

Cholera enterotoxin subunit B (ctxB) is a subunit of cholera toxin, a bacterial enterotoxin secreted by Vibrio cholerae and also functions as an immune adjuvant. ctxB has emerged as one of the most widely utilized tools in membrane biology and biophysics. CTxB is a homopentameric stable protein that binds tightly to up to five GM1 glycosphingolipids. ctxB incorporate with GM1, can activate resident peritoneal macrophages to produce IL-1β in synergy with LPS through novel mechanisms in which pyrin as well as NLRP3 inflammasomes are involved.