Premium
Water influx via aquaporin directly determines necrotic cell death induced by the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry toxin
Author(s) -
Endo Haruka,
Azuma Masaaki,
Adegawa Satomi,
Kikuta Shingo,
Sato Ryoichi
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1002/1873-3468.12506
Subject(s) - bacillus thuringiensis , toxin , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , microbial toxins , anthrax toxin , biology , bacteria , biochemistry , gene , recombinant dna , genetics , fusion protein
The Bacillus thuringiensis Cry toxin causes swelling and necrosis in insect cells, but the route(s) and significance of the water influx involved in its cytotoxicity are unclear. Here, we assessed the role of aquaporins ( AQP s), known as water channels, in Cry toxin intoxication. An AQP inhibitor did not interfere with any known process to form the toxin pore, but it diminished the cell swelling and loss of membrane integrity induced by the Cry toxin. Overexpression of AQP s facilitated water influx and cytotoxicity. Our results demonstrate that water influx via aquaporin directly determines necrotic cell death induced by the Cry toxin.