Oligomerization and pore formation by equinatoxin II inhibit endocytosis and lead to plasma membrane reorganization

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Ana J. García-Sáez - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Sabine B. Buschhorn - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Heiko Keller - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Gregor Anderluh - (Author)
  • Kai Simons - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Petra Schwille - , Chair of Biophysics, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)

Abstract

Pore-forming toxins have evolved to induce membrane injury by formation of pores in the target cell that alter ion homeostasis and lead to cell death. Many pore-forming toxins use cholesterol, sphingolipids, or other raft components as receptors. However, the role of plasma membrane organization for toxin action is not well understood. In this study, we have investigated cellular dynamics during the attack of equinatoxin II, a poreforming toxin from the sea anemone Actinia equina, by combining time lapse three-dimensional live cell imaging, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, FRET, and fluorescence crosscorrelation spectroscopy. Our results show that membrane binding by equinatoxin II is accompanied by extensive plasma membrane reorganization into microscopic domains that resemble coalesced lipid rafts. Pore formation by the toxin induces Ca2+ entry into the cytosol, which is accompanied by hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, plasma membrane blebbing, actin cytoskeleton reorganization, and inhibition of endocytosis. We propose that plasma membrane reorganization into stabilized raft domains is part of the killing strategy of equinatoxin II.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)37768-37777
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry
Volume286
Issue number43
Publication statusPublished - 28 Oct 2011
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 21885440

Keywords