
Abstract
The channel forming α-toxin of Staphylococcus aureus (about 50 μg/ml) markedly reduces the Ca2+ requirement for dopamine release by the rat pheochromocytoma cell line (PC 12). Maximal secretion by intact cells requires approximately 1 mM Ca2+, whereas release by α-toxin-permeabilized cells can already be triggered with μM concentrations of Ca2+. The latter process reaches a plateau at about 1 μM free Ca2+ and increases again with 10–20 μM free Ca2+. The sensitivity to low concentrations of Ca2+ indicates that the toxin, as a selective cell membrane permeabilizing agent, can be used as a powerful instrument to study stimulus-secretion coupling.
Item Type: | Journal article |
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Keywords: | α-toxin, permeabilization, Ca2+, exocytosis, pheochromocytoma, rat |
Faculties: | Medicine |
Subjects: | 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health |
URN: | urn:nbn:de:bvb:19-epub-7211-9 |
Item ID: | 7211 |
Date Deposited: | 07. Nov 2008, 09:35 |
Last Modified: | 04. Nov 2020, 12:50 |