Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42386714›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

Structural basis for independent pore function of Vpb4 from Bacillus thuringiensis.

Raymond Wirawan, W David Jamieson, Hannah M Baird, Colin Berry, Christopher J Lupton, Hari Venugopal, Luis E Valentin-Alvarado, Hannah L Best, D Dafydd Jones, Lainey J Williamson and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Raymond Wirawan *Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-5376-1009
W David Jamieson *School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8260-5211
Hannah M Baird *School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1007-9464
Colin BerrySchool of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9943-548X
Christopher J LuptonBiomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4617-4853
Hari VenugopalRamaciotti Centre for Cryo-Electron Microscopy, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5230-2973
Luis E Valentin-AlvaradoBiomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7988-8556
Hannah L BestSchool of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2612-2749
D Dafydd JonesSchool of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7709-3995
Lainey J WilliamsonSchool of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3575-5078
Husam Sabah AuhimSchool of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Oliver K CastellSchool of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK. CastellO@cardiff.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6059-8062
Michelle A DunstoneBiomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6026-648X
Bradley A SpicerBiomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. Bradley.Spicer@monash.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9595-918X

Funding

RCUK | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) BB/T019948/1, BB/S002774/1, BB/Y008537/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The Bacterial_Exotoxin_B family constitutes translocating pore-forming proteins that function as the binding (B) component in the binary AB Toxin mechanism. While the two-component system of the family is consistent among well-characterised members, the single-component Vpb4 subclass from entomopathogenic Bacillus thuringiensis challenges this dogma. Here, through single-particle cryo-electron microscopy, we elucidate the inserted pore structure of a Vpb4 member, Vpb4Aa2, at 2.2 Å resolution. The structure reveals distinguishing features from other family members: missing molecular bottleneck and neutrally charged β-barrel. Accordingly, preliminary electrophysiology studies show greater ion flux by Vpb4Aa2 compared to archetypal family member, PA. Through our findings, structure-guided database search allows identification of putative Vpb4-like proteins, which suggest a broader class of single-component proteins within the larger family. This provides mechanistic understanding of the differences between independent pores and translocating pores, with implications in the agricultural industry for screening and identification of future pest control candidates.

Indexed as

Bacillus thuringiensisBacterial ProteinsCryoelectron MicroscopyModels, MolecularBacterial Proteins

Identifiers

PMID42386714
PMCPMC13462110

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.