Single-molecule microscopy of Staphylococcal pore-forming toxins on live mammalian cells

A.J.M. Wollman, Karita Haapasalo-Tuomainen, C. Haas, P.C. Aerts, Esther Van'T Veld, R. Wubbolts, Kok van Kessel, J.A.G. van Strijp, M.C. Leake

    Research output: Contribution to journalMeeting AbstractOther research output

    Abstract

    The majority of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria produce pore forming toxins, specifically targeting white blood cells (leucocytes), which help infecting cells avoid immune response. Panton-Valentine Leukocidin is one of these toxins and comprises two protein subunits, LukS and LukF, which interact with the human C5a receptor (hC5aR) to form holes in the cell membrane and kill the cell. We have labelled LukS/F and hC5aR with different fluorophores and imaged their interaction in live mammalian cells using rapid single-molecule total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy. We find LukS binds first to hC5aR and forms tetramers within hC5aR clusters. LukF is recruited to these LukS-hC5aR complexes leading to lytic pore formation and simultaneous dissociation of LukS-LukF from hC5aR. Our findings support a crystallographic heterooctamer model but provide a new view on the kinetics of these crucial virulence factors and their interactions with live cells.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)381
    Number of pages1
    JournalEuropean Biophysics Journal
    Volume46
    Issue numberS1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2017

    Keywords

    • complement component C5a receptor
    • endogenous compound
    • toxin
    • virulence factor
    • channel gating
    • chemical reaction kinetics
    • crystal structure
    • dissociation
    • human
    • kinetics
    • mammal cell
    • microscopy

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