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Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin-induced pores: Channel-like behavior in lipid bilayers and patch clamped cells

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Abstract

The conductance of pores induced by Staphylococcus aureus α-toxin in Lettre cells has been compared to that in bilayers composed of synthetic lipids or Lettre cell membrane constituents. Previously described characteristics of toxin-induced conductance changes in lipid bilayers, namely rectification, voltage-dependent closure, and closure at low pH or in the presence of divalent cations (Menestrina, 1986) are displayed also in bilayers prepared from Lettre cell membranes and in patch clamped Lettre cells. It is concluded that endogenous proteins do not affect the properties of α-toxininduced channels significantly and that the relative lack of ion channels in Lettre cells makes them ideal for studies of pore-forming toxins by the patch clamp technique.

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Author notes

  1. Y. E. Korchev

    Present address: From the Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia

  2. A. Bakhramov

    Present address: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK

  3. E. V. Sviderskaya

    Present address: Department of Anatomy, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK

  4. P. N. R. Usherwood

    Present address: Department of Life Science, University of Nottingham, NG7 2RD, University Park, Nottingham, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Biochemistry, Department of Cellular & Molecular Sciences, St George's Hospital Medical School, Cranmer Terrace, SW17 ORE, London, UK

    Y. E. Korchev, G. M. Alder, A. Bakhramov, C. L. Bashford, B. S. Joomun, E. V. Sviderskaya, P. N. R. Usherwood & C. A. Pasternak

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  1. Y. E. Korchev
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  2. G. M. Alder
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  3. A. Bakhramov
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  4. C. L. Bashford
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  5. B. S. Joomun
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  6. E. V. Sviderskaya
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  7. P. N. R. Usherwood
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  8. C. A. Pasternak
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Additional information

Dr. Sviderskaya is on leave of absence from the Physiology Institute, University of St. Petersburg, Russia

We are grateful to Dr. J.P. Arbuthnott and Dr. K. Hungerer for gifts of S. aureus α-toxin, to Dr. T.B. Bolton for collaboration with patch clamped cells and to Dr. J.M. Graham for help with the preparation of Lettre cell plasma membranes. This study was supported by the Cell Surface Research Fund, Medical Research Council, Science and Engineering Research Council, UNESCO (Molecular and Cell Biology Network) and The Wellcome Trust.

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Korchev, Y.E., Alder, G.M., Bakhramov, A. et al. Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin-induced pores: Channel-like behavior in lipid bilayers and patch clamped cells. J. Membarin Biol. 143, 143–151 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234660

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00234660

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