Cationic PAMAM dendrimers as pore-blocking binary toxin inhibitors

Biomacromolecules. 2014 Jul 14;15(7):2461-74. doi: 10.1021/bm500328v. Epub 2014 Jul 2.

Abstract

Dendrimers are unique highly branched macromolecules with numerous groundbreaking biomedical applications under development. Here we identified poly(amido amine) (PAMAM) dendrimers as novel blockers for the pore-forming B components of the binary anthrax toxin (PA63) and Clostridium botulinum C2 toxin (C2IIa). These pores are essential for delivery of the enzymatic A components of the internalized toxins from endosomes into the cytosol of target cells. We demonstrate that at low μM concentrations cationic PAMAM dendrimers block PA63 and C2IIa to inhibit channel-mediated transport of the A components, thereby protecting HeLa and Vero cells from intoxication. By channel reconstitution and high-resolution current recording, we show that the PAMAM dendrimers obstruct transmembrane PA63 and C2IIa pores in planar lipid bilayers at nM concentrations. These findings suggest a new potential role for the PAMAM dendrimers as effective polyvalent channel-blocking inhibitors, which can protect human target cells from intoxication with binary toxins from pathogenic bacteria.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Toxins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
  • Biocompatible Materials / pharmacology
  • Biological Transport
  • Botulinum Toxins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Cations / chemistry*
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Cytosol / drug effects
  • Cytosol / metabolism
  • Dendrimers / chemistry*
  • Dendrimers / pharmacology
  • Endosomes / drug effects
  • Endosomes / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Lipid Bilayers / chemistry
  • Vero Cells

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Cations
  • Dendrimers
  • Lipid Bilayers
  • PAMAM Starburst
  • anthrax toxin
  • Botulinum Toxins
  • botulinum toxin type C