title: Membrane damage by hemolytic viruses, toxins, complement, and other cytotoxic agents. A common mechanism blocked by divalent cations.
abstract: Hemolytic viruses, bacterial and animal toxins, the components of activated complement, cationic proteins, and detergents induce a sequence of permeability changes at the plasma membrane that are in every case sensitive to changes in ionic strength and to divalent cations. Individually, each agent exhibits positive cooperativity; when two agents are present together, they show synergy. It is concluded that such cytotoxic agents damage membranes by a common mechanism. Hence permeability changes are unlikely to depend on the formation of specific, protein-lined channels, as previously envisaged in the case of activated complement or certain bacterial toxins.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002413:Cations, Divalent / Q000494:pharmacology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000378:metabolism; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D008555:Melitten / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D017830:Octoxynol; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010222:Parainfluenza Virus 1, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology; D011107:Polylysine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D002413:Cations, Divalent; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D014118:Toxins, Biological; C036117:staphylotoxin; D008555:Melitten; D011107:Polylysine; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D017830:Octoxynol; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D012964:Sodium; D008274:Magnesium; D015032:Zinc; D002118:Calcium