title: Oligomerization is essential for apoptotic activity of Vibrio vulnificus hemolysin.
abstract: Vibrio vulnificus hemolysin (VVH), a pore forming toxin, is thought to be a virulence factor of this bacterium. It is well known that VVH induces apoptosis as well as cell lysis in susceptible target cells. Although pore formation is an essential step in cell lysis, it is unknown whether this step is necessary for VVH-induced apoptosis. In this study, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were exposed to non-oligomerized mutant F334I, in which phenylalanine 334 was replaced by isoleucine. The rate of apoptosis caused by the wild type VVH (VVH wt) was 41.5 +/- 6.4 %, whereas that caused by F334I was 0.4 +/- 0.8% at the same concentration. Our results clearly showed that oligomerization is essential for the cell lytic activity as well as apoptotic activity of this toxin.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Kitasato University, Towada, Aomori 034-8628, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashige
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kashimoto
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: Hayato
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ehara
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukudome
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Komai
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Susa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016466:CHO Cells; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D041261:Vibrio vulnificus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C073845:hemolysin, Vibrio