Open AccessThe Vibrio cholerae haemolysin anion channel is required for cell vacuolation and death
Author(s) -
Moschioni Monica,
Tombola Francesco,
Bernard Marina de,
Coelho Ana,
Zitzer Alexander,
Zoratti Mario,
Montecucco Cesare
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
cellular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.542
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1462-5822
pISSN - 1462-5814
DOI - 10.1046/j.1462-5822.2002.00199.x
Subject(s) - vacuole , vibrio cholerae , biology , cytolysin , endosome , microbiology and biotechnology , intracellular , cytoplasm , biogenesis , organelle , toxin , secretion , biochemistry , bacteria , gene , genetics , virulence
Summary Several strains of Vibrio cholerae secrete a haemolytic toxin of 63 kDa, termed V. cholerae cytolysin (VCC). This toxin causes extensive vacuolation and death of cells in culture and forms an anion‐selective channel in planar lipid bilayers and in cells. Here, we identify inhibitors of the VCC anion channel and show that the formation of the anion channel is necessary for the development of the vacuoles and for the cell death induced by this toxin. Using markers of cell organelles, we show that vacuoles derive from different intracellular compartments and we identify the contribution of late endosomes and of the trans ‐Golgi network in vacuole biogenesis.