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. 1981 Jun;1(6):552–559. doi: 10.1128/mcb.1.6.552

Enhancement of cytotoxicities of ricin and Pseudomonas toxin in Chinese hamster ovary cells by nigericin.

B Ray 1, H C Wu 1
PMCID: PMC369698  PMID: 6965108

Abstract

Nigericin and monensin, ionophores for Na+ and K+, have been found to enhance the cytotoxicities of abrin, ricin, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. They do not affect the cytotoxicity of diphtheria toxin in the same cell line. Maximal sensitization of the CHO cells toward ricin and Pseudomonas toxin requires preculture of CHO cells in the presence of nigericin. Inhibition of protein synthesis in CHO cells by ricin or Pseudomonas toxin is also enhanced by preculture of CHO cells in the presence of nigericin. These results suggest a common step in the intoxication process of ricin and Pseudomonas toxin, the rate of which is facilitated by pretreatment with nigericin. This step is, however, not shared by the intoxication of CHO cells with diphtheria toxin.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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