Cholera toxin’s mechanism involves:

Cholera toxin's mechanism primarily involves activating adenylate cyclase activity. This toxin is produced by Vibrio cholerae and works by entering the intestinal epithelial cells, where it catalyzes the ADP ribosylation of a Gs protein. This modification prevents the Gs protein from returning to its inactive state, effectively keeping it active.

When the Gs protein is active, it continuously stimulates adenylate cyclase, leading to an overproduction of cyclic AMP (cAMP) within the cell. The elevated levels of cAMP result in increased secretion of electrolytes and water into the intestinal lumen, which contributes to the severe diarrhea characteristic of cholera. By activating adenylate cyclase rather than inhibiting it, cholera toxin creates a harmful disruption in cellular signaling, demonstrating how specific toxins can manipulate cellular functions to cause disease.