title: Alpha-toxin of Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: Alpha-toxin, the major cytotoxic agent elaborated by Staphylococcus aureus, was the first bacterial exotoxin to be identified as a pore former. The protein is secreted as a single-chain, water-soluble molecule of Mr 33,000. At low concentrations (less than 100 nM), the toxin binds to as yet unidentified, high-affinity acceptor sites that have been detected on a variety of cells including rabbit erythrocytes, human platelets, monocytes and endothelial cells. At high concentrations, the toxin additionally binds via nonspecific absorption to lipid bilayers; it can thus damage both cells lacking significant numbers of the acceptor and protein-free artificial lipid bilayers. Membrane damage occurs in both cases after membrane-bound toxin molecules collide via lateral diffusion to form ring-structured hexamers. The latter insert spontaneously into the lipid bilayer to form discrete transmembrane pores of effective diameter 1 to 2 nm. A hypothetical model is advanced in which the pore is lined by amphiphilic beta-sheets, one surface of which interacts with lipids whereas the other repels apolar membrane constitutents to force open an aqueous passage. The detrimental effects of alpha-toxin are due not only to the death of susceptible targets, but also to the presence of secondary cellular reactions that can be triggered via Ca2+ influx through the pores. Well-studied phenomena include the stimulation of arachidonic acid metabolism, triggering of granule exocytosis, and contractile dysfunction. Such processes cause profound long-range disturbances such as development of pulmonary edema and promotion of blood coagulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Mainz, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhakdi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tranum-Jensen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C021091:staphylococcal alpha-toxin