title: Increase of permeability of synaptosomes and liposomes by the heavy chain of tetanus toxin.
abstract: In search of a role for the heavy chain of tetanus toxin in poisoning, its actions on natural and artificial membranes have been assessed. The heavy chain increases the permeability of synaptosomes to lactate dehydrogenase and potassium ions, and promotes the outward shift of the lipophilic cation tetraphenylphosphonium which is a particularly sensitive indicator for depolarization. Independent of the assay system the potency of the heavy chain is high, i.e. in the range of about 1 nM, whereas its efficacy is low. Its potency is decreased by the addition of the light chain and by treatment of the synaptosomes with the C-terminal fragment C of the heavy chain, but not with its N-terminal fragment beta 2. Single- or two-chain toxin itself is inactive, and so are the light chain or the two heavy chain fragments beta 2 and C. Liposomes were made from phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine or gangliosides and loaded with calcein. At pH 6 the outflow of calcein is promoted in the order heavy chain greater than toxin much greater than fragment beta 2, and the action of toxin is promoted by ganglioside. At pH 5, fragment beta 2 is nearly as active as the heavy chain and more potent than the toxin. The heavy chain, but neither of the fragments, is strongly adsorbed in hydrophobic interaction chromatography and caused aggregation of polystyrene-divinylbenzene beads. Evidence for polymerization of heavy chains is lacking in zonal centrifugation. It is concluded that both domains of the heavy chain co-operate to exert the membranal events described, and that the heavy chain is partially hidden by the light chain in the complete toxin molecule.
authors.affiliation: Rudolf-Buchheim-Institut für Pharmakologie, Justus-Liebig Universität, Giessen, F.R.G.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Högy
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Dauzenroth
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hudel
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Weller
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Habermann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D005452:Fluoresceins / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008081:Liposomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008863:Microspheres; D009861:Onium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010539:Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D011108:Polymers; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013499:Surface Properties; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000187:drug effects*; D013744:Tetanus Toxin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D005452:Fluoresceins; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008081:Liposomes; D009861:Onium Compounds; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011108:Polymers; D013744:Tetanus Toxin; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D011188:Potassium; C013289:tetraphenylphosphonium; C007740:fluorexon