Action of diphtheria toxin does not depend on the induction of large, stable pores across biological membranes.

Vero cells exposed to diphtheria toxin at pH 4.5 leak monovalent cations but not amino acids or phosphorylated metabolites; affected cells do not take up trypan blue. Monovalent cation leakage is inhibited by 1 mM Cd2+, but not by 1 mM Zn2+ or Ca2+. Cd2+ blocks calcein leakage from liposomes and closes diphtheria toxin-induced channels in lipid bilayers. It is concluded that translocation of the A fragment of diphtheria toxin across biological membranes does not depend on the formation of large stable pores, but that small Cd2(+)-sensitive pores may play a role.