title: Membrane binding requirements for the cytolytic activity of Leishmania amazonensis leishporin.
abstract: To lyse cells, some pore-forming proteins need to bind to receptors on their targets. Studying the binding requirements of Leishmania amazonensis leishporin, we have shown that protease-treated erythrocytes are as sensitive to leishporin-mediated lysis as untreated cells, indicating that protein receptors are dispensable. Similarly, carbohydrate receptors do not seem to be needed, since several sugars do not inhibit leishporin-mediated hemolysis. Conversely, dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), but not cholesterol, completely inhibits leishporin-mediated lysis. DPPC liposomes, with or without cholesterol, are lysed by leishporin and remove its lytic activity. Our results demonstrate that leishporin is a cholesterol-independent cytolysin that binds directly to phospholipids.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Castro-Gomes
authors.forename: Flávia Regina
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Almeida-Campos
authors.forename: Carlos Eduardo
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Calzavara-Silva
authors.forename: Rosiane Aparecida
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Frézard
authors.forename: Maria Fátima
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Horta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002241:Carbohydrates; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D007891:Leishmania / Q000378:metabolism*; D008081:Liposomes / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D008081:Liposomes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010743:Phospholipids; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C412371:leishporin protein, Leishmania; D002784:Cholesterol