Abstract
The effects of Staphylococcal alpha toxin from culture filtrates of Staphylococcus aureus, strain Wood 46, on superprecipitation of actomyosin and Ca 2+-uptake of microsomes and fragments of plasma membrane from bovine carotid arteries were followed. It was found that alpha toxin inhibits the active Ca 2+-uptake by smooth muscle microsomes and fragments of plasma membrane and liberates bound calcium. The toxin causes in the absence of free Ca 2+ superprecipitation of actomyosin and activation of ATP-ase. The liberation of calcium from cellular structures and the inhibition of Ca 2+ transport into these structures by alpha toxin could be responsible for its spasmogenic action.
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