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  • Title: Pore-forming toxins: experiments with S. aureus alpha-toxin, C. perfringens theta-toxin and E. coli haemolysin in lipid bilayers, liposomes and intact cells.
    Author: Menestrina G, Bashford CL, Pasternak CA.
    Journal: Toxicon; 1990; 28(5):477-91. PubMed ID: 1697105.
    Abstract:
    Three quite different bacterial toxins (S. aureus alpha-toxin, C. perfringens theta-toxin and E. coli haemolysin) induce the leakage of phosphorylated metabolites from Lettre cells and of calcein from liposomes; in each case leakage is inhibited by Zn2+ greater than Ca2+ greater than Mg2+. Inhibition is not due to displacement of toxin from the membrane, since divalent cations inhibit leakage through pre-formed pores. Electrical conductivity across phospholipid bilayers is induced by each of the three toxins; in each case the probability of channels being in the open state is reduced by divalent cations. Although the pores induced in phospholipid bilayers and liposomes vary greatly in size (theta-toxin much greater than haemolysin greater than alpha-toxin), in Lettre cells the lesions appear more uniform, suggestive of a limiting effect in cells.
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