Brefeldin A-Treatment: Effect on Retrograde Transport of Internalised WGA

Abstract

Treatment with Brefeldin A (BFA) leads to a protection of cells from the harmful effects of several toxins. These include ricin, as well as Shiga and cholera toxins. The mechanisms of this protective BFA-effect presumably are related to the BFA-induced breakdown of the Golgi apparatus, an event that leads to an interruption of retrograde pathways from the plasma membrane to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) involving the Golgi apparatus (cf. Fig. 48). Such pathways have to be travelled by those toxins in order to finally reach the cytosol, where they exert their toxic effects.