Action of diphtheria toxin does not depend on the induction of large, stable pores across biological membranes

Abstract

Vero cells exposed to diphtheria toxin at pH 4.5 leak monovalent cations but not amino acids or phosphorylated metabolites; affected cells do not take up trypan blue. Monovalent cation leakage is inhibited by 1mmCd²⁺, but not by 1mmZn²⁺ or Ca²⁺. Cd²⁺ blocks calcein leakage from liposomes and closes diphtheria toxin-induced channels in lipid bilayers. It is concluded that translocation of the A fragment of diphtheria toxin across biological membranes does not depend on the formation of large stable pores, but that small Cd²⁺-sensitive pores may play a role.