THE INTERACTION OF STAPHYLOCOCCAL TOXIN AND GANGLIOSIDE

Abstract

SUMMARY Evidence is presented that staphylococcal toxin and serum proteins form firm combinations with ganglioside. Ganglioside from which up to 62 p.c. of the sialic acid is removed by either heat or neuraminidase still strongly inactivates staphylococcal toxin. Sedimentation data are presented for unheated and heated aqueous solutions of ganglioside. These data, together with inactivation studies, support the idea that heated aqueous solutions form smaller or unfolded aggregates with more active sites available for interaction with toxins. Mechanisms of combination between gangliosides and proteins are discussed.