ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with toxins which interfere with the cytoskeleton (CTSK) of mammalian cells. The toxins which have the CTSK as a common target form a group which is heterogeneous with respect to chemical properties as well as origins. Tubulin interacts with ions, nucleotides, microtubule-associated proteins and various toxins. Phomopsins comprise a family of peptide mycotoxins produced by Phomopsis lepto stromifor mis. Phalloidin, the most studied representative of the phallotoxins was first isolated 50 years ago. Virotoxins also cause hemorrhagic liver necrosis, suggesting a selective affinity for hepatoeytes. The C2 toxin is cytotoxic to a variety of cells, causing a dose-dependent cell rounding within 1-2 h of exposure, and cell degeneration after 24-48 hours. Generally toxin B appears to be about 1,000 times more potent than toxin A as a cytotoxin, but the morphological effect of toxin A was indistinguishable from that of toxin B.
