Action and binding of palytoxin, as studied with brain membranes

Palytoxin in concentrations as low as 10(-11) to 10(-12) M promotes the outflow of the lipophilic [3H]tetraphenylphosphonium ion from particulate brain cortex of guinea-pigs and rats, and from preloaded crude synaptosomes of rats, which indicates depolarization. The outflow is not influenced by tetrodotoxin or the calcium channel blocker nimodipin, or by substitution of choline for Na+ ions. It is increased by Ca2+ and by borate, the latter interacting with the toxin itself. To assess the fixation of palytoxin to biological membranes, a binding step was installed before the depolarization step. Palytoxin binds to membranes from rat brain, liver, kidney, human and dog erythrocytes, and to a lesser degree to liposomes made from rat brain or erythrocyte lipids. Binding is reversible. It is decreased by mild physical pretreatments of crude synaptosomes. Palytoxin binding is increased in the presence of micromolar concentrations of Ca2+ or borate. It is concluded that the potentiation of palytoxin actions by Ca2+ or borate is at least partially due to the promotion of its binding.