Cytolytic pore-forming protein associated with the surface membrane of Naegleria fowleri
Whole cell homogenates of Naegleria fowleri were examined by hemolytic and /sup 51/Cr-release assays for the presence of cytolytic molecules which may participate in the cytopathogenic action of this amoeba. Two distinct cytolytic activities were found. A surface membrane cytolysin was identified which was found to be avidly associated with membranes possessing an equilibrium density of 1.135 g/cm/sup 3/ in isopycnic sucrose gradients. The activity of the surface membrane cytolysin was not affected by heating at 75/sup 0/C for 30 min. The second cytolytic activity was found in putative lysosomes possessing an equilibrium density of 1.162 g/cm/sup 3/ and was completely inactivated by heating at 75/sup 0/C for 30 min. Cytolysis produced in the presence of both cytolysins was consistently synergistic with respect to the activity of either cytolysin alone. The lesions produced on erythrocytes by this cooperative process were characterized by electron microscopy as transmembrane pores resembling a number of other cytolytic effector molecules including the ninth component of complement, perforins of cytolytic T lymphocytes, and the alphatoxin of Staphylococcus aureus.
- Research Organization:
- Miami Univ., Coral Gables, FL (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 7170516
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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AMOEBA
RADIOASSAY
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PROTEINS
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CELL MEMBRANES
CHROMIUM 51
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
HOMOGENATES
ANIMALS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY FLUIDS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CHROMIUM ISOTOPES
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
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INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
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550601* - Medicine- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics