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HEMOLYSIS OF RABBIT ERYTHROCYTES BY PURIFIED STAPHYLOCOCCAL ALPHA-TOXIN III.

Potassium Release

Infectious Disease Service, Pratt Clinic-New England Center Hospital, and Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts

ABSTRACT

MADOFF, MORTON A. (New England Center Hospital, Boston, Mass.), LOUIS Z. COOPER, AND LOUIS WEINSTEIN. Hemolysis of rabbit erythrocytes by purified staphylococcal alpha-toxin. III. Potassium release. J. Bacteriol. 87:145–149. 1964.—The reaction between staphylococcal alpha-toxin and erythrocytes was characterized by rapid release of K⁺ from the cells, early in the prelytic period; 50 to 75% of this loss occurred before leakage of hemoglobin was detectable. The addition of specific antitoxin early enough in the reaction to inhibit gross hemolysis also inhibited cation release. The presence of sucrose or polyethylene glycol prevented hemoglobin release, but was without effect on K⁺ leak. These observations suggest that K⁺ loss is a more specific indication of the progress of the reaction between alpha-toxin and erythrocytes than is the release of hemoglobin.

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