The properties of Bacillus cereus hemolysin II pores depend on environmental conditions

Hemolysin II (HlyII), one of several cytolytic proteins encoded by the opportunistic human pathogen Bacillus cereus, is a member of the family of oligomeric beta-barrel pore-forming toxins. This work has studied the pore-forming properties of HlyII using a number of biochemical and biophysical approaches. According to electron microscopy, HlyII protein interacts with liposomes to form ordered heptamer-like macromolecular assemblies with an inner pore diameter of 1.5-2 nm and an outer diameter of 6-8 nm. This is consistent with inner pore diameter obtained from osmotic protection assay. According to the 3D model obtained, seven HlyII monomers might form a pore, the outer size of which has been estimated to be slightly larger than by the other method, with an inner diameter changing from 1 to 4 nm along the channel length. The hemolysis rate has been found to be temperature-dependent, with an explicit lag at lower temperatures. Temperature jump experiments have indicated the pore structures formed at 37 degrees C and 4 degrees C to be different. The channels formed by HlyII are anion-selective in lipid bilayers and show a rising conductance as the salt concentration increases. The results presented show for the first time that at high salt concentration HlyII pores demonstrate voltage-induced gating observed at low negative potentials. Taken together we have found that the membrane-binding properties of hemolysin II as well as the properties of its pores strongly depend on environmental conditions. The study of the properties together with structural modeling allows a better understanding of channel functioning.

Sizing the pore of the volume-sensitive anion channel by differential polymer partitioning

Partitioning of ethylene glycol and its polymeric forms into the pore of the volume-sensitive outwardly rectifying (VSOR) anion channel was studied to assess the pore size. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) PEG 200-300 (Rh = 0.27-0.53 nm) effectively suppressed the single-channel currents, whereas PEG 400-4000 (Rh = 0.62-1.91 nm) had little or no effect. Since all the molecules tested effectively decreased electric conductivity of the bulk solution, the observed differential effects between PEG 200-300 and PEG 400-4000 on the VSOR single-channel current are due to their limited partitioning into the channel lumen. The cut-off radius of the VSOR channel pore was assessed to be 0.63 nm.

Through pore diameter in the cell wall of Chara corallina

Determination of pore size of the cell wall of Chara corallina has been made by using the polyethylene glycol (PEG) series as the hydrophilic probing molecules. In these experiments, the polydispersity of commercial preparation of PEGs was allowed for. The mass share (gamma(p)) of polyethylene glycol preparation fractions penetrating through the pores was determined using a cellular 'ghost', i.e. fragments of internodal cell walls filled with a 25% solution of non-penetrating PEG 6000 and tied up at the ends. In water, such a 'ghost' developed a hydrostatic pressure close to the cell turgor which persisted for several days. The determination of gamma(p), for polydisperse polyethylene glycols with different average molecular mass (M) was calculated from the degree of pressure restoration after water was replaced by a 5-10% polymer solution. Pressure was recorded using a dynamometer, which measures, in the quasi-isometric mode, the force necessary for the partial compression of the 'ghost' in its small fragment. By utilizing the data on the distribution of PEG 1000, 1450, 2000, and 3350 fractions over molecular mass (M), it was found that gamma(p), for these polyethylene glycols corresponded to the upper limit of ML=800-1100 D (hydrodynamic radius of molecules, r(h)=0.85-1.05 nm). Thus, the effective diameter of the pores in the cell wall of Chara did not exceed 2.1 nm.

Effective diameter and structural organization of reconstituted calcium channels from the Characeae algae Nitellopsis

Using hydrophilic non-electrolytes, we determined the effective diameter of calcium channels from the Characeae alga Nitellopsis, reconstituted in a planar lipid membrane. It is suggested that a "single" reconstituted channel is a cluster consisting of several protochannels, in which the channel-forming molecules are stabilized by calcium ions. It is shown that the channels assembled in a cluster with the common conductivity of 350 pS (in 0.1 M KCl) have a funnel-like structure. The diameter of the smaller section is 0.96 +/- 0.20 nm, the diameter of the wider vestibule is 1.78 +/- 0.30 nm. Similarity of the structural organization of the channels investigated to the channels formed by annexin proteins is discussed.

Effective diameters of ion channels formed by homologs of the antibiotic chrysospermin

Radii of ion channels formed in the lipid bilayer by 4 homologs of the alamethicin-like antibiotic, chrysospermin, were determined using hydrophilic nonelectrolytes. It is shown that the replacement of isovaline amino acid at position 15 of the polypeptide chain by alpha-aminoisobutyric acid results in the decrease in the channel effective radius from 1.2 +/- 0.15 to 0.94 +/- 0.1 nm and a respective 2.5-fold decrease in channel conductance.

Ionophoretic properties of ferutinin

The influence of the natural terpenoid ferutinin (4-oxy-6-(4-oxybenzoyloxy) dauc-8,9-en), isolated from the plant Ferula tenuisecta, on ion permeability of biological and artificial membranes was investigated. It was shown that ferutinin, in the concentration range 1-50 microM, increases the permeability of thymocytes, mitochondria, sarcoplasmic reticulum, liposomes and bilayer lipid membranes (BLM) for Ca2+. Ferutinin establishes a transmembrane potential in BLM equal to the Nernst's potential. The permeability ratio for Na+/Ca2+ is 0.41. The dependence of BLM conductivity on ferutinin concentration is linear. The stoichiometry of the ferutinin:Ca2+ complex is 2, assuming the formation of a structure with participation of two terpenoid molecules and one Ca2+ ion.

The characterization of ion channels formed by Pasteurella multocida dermonecrotic toxin

The influence of the dermonecrotic lethal toxin (approximately 120 kDa) produced by Pasteurella multocida serovarian D on planar phospholipid bilayers was studied. It was found that the toxin is able to increase the conductance of the bilayers by formation of low-conductive and cation-selective ion channels [27 pS at 4.0 M KCl, pH 7.5; zero current potential equals to -14.5 +/- 0.5 mV at threefold transmembrane gradient KCl (120 mM/40 mM)]. In biionic conditions the channels displayed weak selectivity between Na, K and Ca ions. The shapes of current-voltage characteristics (which were measured at different pH and salt concentrations) indicate that an energetic barrier for passing ions is situated near the center of the water pore of the ion channels. The effective diameter of the ion channel's water pore was established to be equal to 2.1 +/- 0.3 nm.

Effects of monoclonal antibodies on alpha-staphylotoxin action against erythrocytes and model phospholipid membranes

It was found that one of twenty tested monoclonal antibodies (MABs) existed which drastically enhanced ability of Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin (ST) to both lysis of human erythrocytes and increase of planar phospholipid bilayer conductance more than 10 and 1,000 times respectively. Other 19 MABs possessed only neutralized effect. The activation could only be observed if the activating MAB (AMAB) interacted with ST in solution but not in membrane. The one molecule of AMAB was able to activate approximately 2-4 molecules of ST. It was assumed that this activation was a result of the AMAB-induced transition of ST from a hydrophilic to an amphiphilic form. The activation could not be observed when the activity of AMAB/ST mixtures was tested on highly sensitive rabbit erythrocytes. All the tested MABs (including AMAB) were able to inhibit the ST-induced lysis of rabbit erythrocytes. The activating effects of AMAB on ST action in BLM and in human erythrocytes as well as their inhibiting influence on the ability of toxin to cause a lysis of rabbit erythrocytes indicate the presence of an ST-specific receptor on the membrane of rabbit erythrocytes.

Relation between ionic channel conductance and conductivity of media containing different nonelectrolytes. A novel method of pore size determination

The effects of nonelectrolytes on conductivity and viscosity of KCl solutions as well as on ion channel conductance were studied. Mobility of ions in solutions were found to solely depend on percent concentration (w/w) of the nonelectrolytes added and to be effectively independent on their chemical nature (sugars or polyglycols) and molecular size. Proportional changes in both the ion channel conductance and the conductivity of bulk solution induced by low m. w. nonelectrolytes may be used as a criterion of diffusion mechanism of ion transport through channels. The slope of the dependence of ion channel conductance on conductivity of bulk solution containing different concentrations of nonelectrolytes is a good measure of channel permeability for nonelectrolyte. A new method of pore size determination is introduced. Results of practical application of this simple method to three types of ion channels (formed by alpha-latrotoxin, staphylococcal alpha-toxin and its N-terminal fragment) are shown. The advantages and disadvantages of the method are discussed.

A simple method for the determination of the pore radius of ion channels in planar lipid bilayer membranes

A new method of pore size determination is presented. The results of applying this simple method to ion channels formed by staphylococcal alpha-toxin and its N-terminal fragment as well as to cholera toxin channels are shown. The advantages and the difficulties of this method are discussed. It was found that (i) the mobility of ions in solutions depends only on the percentage of concentration of added non-electrolytes and practically not on their chemical nature (sugars or polyglycols) and molecular size; (ii) the proportional change of both ion channel conductance and bulk solution conductivity by low M. nonelectrolytes may be used as an indication of a diffusion mechanism of ion transport through channels; (iii) the slope of the dependence of the ion channel conductance on the bulk conductivity of solutions containing different concentrations of non-electrolyte is a good measure of channel permeability for non-electrolytes.

A simple method for the determination of the pore radius of ion channels in planar lipid bilayer membranes

A new method of pore size determination is presented. The results of applying this simple method to ion channels formed by staphylococcal alpha-toxin and its N-terminal fragment as well as to cholera toxin channels are shown. The advantages and the difficulties of this method are discussed. It was found that (i) the mobility of ions in solutions depends only on the percentage of concentration of added non-electrolytes and practically not on their chemical nature (sugars or polyglycols) and molecular size; (ii) the proportional change of both ion channel conductance and bulk solution conductivity by low M. nonelectrolytes may be used as an indication of a diffusion mechanism of ion transport through channels; (iii) the slope of the dependence of the ion channel conductance on the bulk conductivity of solutions containing different concentrations of non-electrolyte is a good measure of channel permeability for non-electrolytes.

The structure of Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin-induced ionic channel

Polyethylene glycols (PEG) with molecular weight less than or equal to 3000 were shown to effectively protect human erythrocytes from osmotic lysis induced by alpha-staphylotoxin (ST). PEG with MW less than 3000 do not change the conductivity of ion channels induced by ST in bilayer lipid membranes (BLM). Changing the bilayer from a pure phosphatidylcholine (PC) to a negatively charged phosphatidylserine (PS) film results in an asymmetry of the current-voltage characteristics. This is evidenced by the asymmetrical position of the ST-channel pore in bilayer membranes. The results obtained allow to conclude that the ST-channel is an interprotein pore filled with water (with an inner diameter of 2.5-3 nm and a length of approximately 10 nm). It is composed of six molecules of alpha-toxin from Staphylococcus aureus. The ST-channel incorporates into a membrane with only one mouth in contact with the polar lipid heads and the other one protruding 4.5-5 nm from the bilayer plane in water solution.