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Epithelial cell intoxicated by MakA cytotoxin and co-localized (yellow) with phosphatidic acid

The recently discovered Vibrio cholerae cytotoxin MakA was shown to be a modulator of autophagy and an apoptotic inducer in target cells. This scanning electron micrograph of an epithelial cell intoxicated by MakA demonstrates changes in cell morphology. The yellow pseudo-color indicates a co-localization cluster of MakA and phosphatidic acid in a filopodia rich structure of the cell. The red pseudo-color indicates association of MakA to the tubular structures. The MakA and phosphatidic acid interaction at the filopodia rich structures promoted macropinocytosis resulting in the formation of an endomembrane-rich aggregate in intoxicated cells that ultimately leads to activation of autophagy. Nadeem et al.

Image Credit: Nadeem A Vegesna G, 2021