Morphological and biochemical study of cytoskeletal changes in cultured cells after extracellular application of Clostridium novyi alpha-toxin.

Clostridium novyi alpha-toxin caused retraction and rounding of cultured endothelial cells from porcine pulmonary arteries; nevertheless, the endothelial cells firmly adhered to their supports. F-actin stained with fluorescein-labeled phalloidin was condensed around the nucleus, whereas intermediate filaments and microtubules appeared unchanged. The content of F-actin and myosin was decreased, but that of G-actin or vimentin was not. A predominant role of the microfilament system in C. novyi alpha-toxin cytopathic action is suggested.