title: Activation of insect cell adenylate cyclase by Bacillus thuringiensis delta-endotoxins and melittin. Toxicity is independent of cyclic AMP.
abstract: Insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) delta-endotoxins are cytolytic to a range of insect cell lines in vitro. Addition of Bt var. aizawai or var. israelensis toxins to Mamestra brassicae (cabbage moth) cells in vitro increased intracellular cyclic AMP, which was paralleled by activation of adenylate cyclase in isolated membranes. Var. kurstaki toxin, which does not lyse M. brassicae cells, had no effect on cyclic AMP concentrations in intact cells, but was able to stimulate adenylate cyclase in membrane preparations. In contrast, the bee-venom toxin melittin, which is also cytolytic, increased intracellular cyclic AMP in whole cells, but inhibited adenylate cyclase in isolated membranes. Octopamine and forskolin also increased cyclic AMP in cells, but were not cytolytic. When added to cells at concentrations exceeding their LC90 (concentration causing 90% cell death), melittin and var. israelensis toxins caused cell lysis without a concomitant increase in intracellular cyclic AMP. Taken together, these results suggest that activation of adenylate cyclase by cytolytic toxins is a secondary effect (related perhaps to interactions of these toxins with membrane lipids) and is neither necessary nor sufficient for cytolysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, U.K.
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Knowles
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Farndale
mesh_terms: D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000201:enzymology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000201:enzymology*; D008555:Melitten / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009036:Moths / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D001514:Bee Venoms; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D007306:Insecticides; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis; D008555:Melitten; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases