Avtor/Urednik     Anderluh, Gregor; Dalla-Serra, Mauro; Viero, Gabriella; Guella, Graziano; Maček, Peter; Menestrina, Gianfranco
Naslov     Pore formation by equinatoxin II, a eukaryotic protein toxin, occurs by induction of nonlamellar lipid structures
Tip     članek
Vir     J Biol Chem
Vol. in št.     Letnik 278, št. 46
Leto izdaje     2003
Obseg     str. 45216-23
Jezik     eng
Abstrakt     Pore formation in the target cell membranes is a common mechanism used by many toxins in order to kill cells. Among various described mechanisms, a toroidal pore concept was described recently in the course of action of small antimicrobial peptides. Here we provide evidence that such mechanism may be used also by larger toxins. Membrane-destabilizing effects of equinatoxin II, a sea anemone cytolysin, were studied by various biophysical techniques. 31P NMR showed an occurrence of an isotropic component when toxin was added to multilamellar vesicles and heated. This component was not observed with melittin, alpha-staphylococcal toxin, or myoglobin. It does not originate from isolated small lipid structures, since the size of the vesicles after the experiment was similar to the control without toxin. Electron microscopy shows occurrence of a honeycomb structure, previously observed only for some particular lipid mixtures. The analysis of FTIR spectra of the equinatoxin II-lipid complex showed lipid dieordering that is consistent with isotropic component observed in NMR.. Finally, the cation selectivity of the toxin-induced pores increased in the presence of negatively charged phosphatidic acid, indicating the presence of lipids in the conductive channel. The results are compatible with the toroidal pore concept that might be a general mechanism of pore formation for various membrane-interacting proteins or peptides.
Deskriptorji     CNIDARIAN VENOMS
CELL MEMBRANE PERMEABILITY
LIPID BILAYERS
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
MICROSCOPY, ELECTRON
SEA ANEMONES