PHOSPHOLIPID-METABOLISM INDUCED BY CLOSTRIDIUM-PERFRINGENS ALPHA-TOXIN ELICITS A HOT-COLD TYPE OF HEMOLYSIS IN RABBIT ERYTHROCYTES

GTP and AIF(4)(-) significantly stimulated the late phosphatidic acid (PA) formation induced by Clostridium perfringens alpha-toxin in rabbi t erythrocyte lysates. Pertussis toxin blocked the PA production. AlF4 - markedly enhanced phosphatidylethanol production induced by alpha-to xin in the presence of ethanol, GTP[gamma S] stimulated the PA formati on and hemolysis induced by alpha-toxin, and GDP[beta S] inhibited the m. An H-to-G mutation at position 126 (H126G) induced the PA formation and hemolysis in a Co2+ concentration-dependent manner. H148G induced neither the PA formation nor hemolysis, These results suggest that th e toxin-induced hemolysis is due to activation of phospholipid metabol ism systems through GTP-binding protein.