Q. 22 Many proteins are secreted in their inactive form. This is also true to many ‘toxic proteins produced by microorganisms. Explain how the mechanism is useful for the organism producing the toxin?

Many proteins including certain toxins are secreted in their inactive form. They get activated only when exposed to a specific trigger (pH, temperature etc.). This mechanism is advantageous to the organism (e.g., bacteria) producing the toxins, as the bacteria
does not get killed by the action of proteins present in the toxin.