Phospholipase-like myotoxins induce rapid membrane leakage of non-hydrolyzable ether-lipid liposomes.

Two phospholipase-like myotoxins--ammodytin L from Vipera ammodytes and myotoxin II from Bothrops asper--are shown to be able to induce leakage of liposomes made from non-hydrolyzable ether-linked phospholipids. This demonstrates that the cytolytic activity of these toxins is completely independent of any remaining enzyme activity or contamination with active phospholipases.