溶血性毒素是有毒藻类分泌较多的一类毒素,具有溶血活性。运用光学显微镜和原子力显微镜(AFM)观察了球形棕囊藻Phaeocystis globosa溶血毒素对兔红细胞的溶血现象。结果显示,经毒素处理后的兔血红细胞边缘凹凸不平,只剩下一小部分残骸。该毒素可能由于其双亲性质与血红细胞膜表面的膜脂连接,产生脂溶效应,使细胞膜破坏。
Many harmful algae can produce hemolytic toxin which is toxic to erythrocytes. The morphological changes of rabbit erythrocytes induced by haemolytic extracts from Phaeocystis globosa were observed with optic microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). In comparison with normal erythrocytes, significant changes occurred in the ultrastructure of the erythrocytes treated with the extracts. A concavoconvex surface appeared on the cell membrane, suggesting that the haemolytic toxin may break the erythrocytes by combining its lipophilic groups with the membrane.