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The cytotoxic cell granule secretory pathway is essential for immune defence. How the pore-forming protein perforin (PFN) facilitates the cytosolic delivery of granule-associated proteases (granzymes) remains enigmatic. Here we show that PFN is able to induce invaginations and formation of complete internal vesicles in giant unilamellar vesicles. Formation of internal vesicles depends on native PFN and calcium and antibody labeling shows the localization of PFN at the invaginations. This vesiculation is recapitulated in large unilamellar vesicles and in this case PFN oligomers can be seen associated with the necks of the invaginations. Capacitance measurements show PFN is able to increase a planar lipid membrane surface area in the absence of pore formation, in agreement with the ability to induce invaginations. Finally, addition of PFN to Jurkat cells causes the formation of internal vesicles prior to pore formation. PFN is capable of triggering an endocytosis-like event in addition to pore formation, suggesting a new paradigm for its role in delivering apoptosis-inducing granzymes into target cells.

Original publication

DOI

10.1073/pnas.1107473108

Type

Journal article

Journal

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Publication Date

27/12/2011

Volume

108

Pages

21016 - 21021

Keywords

Cell Membrane, Cryoelectron Microscopy, Endocytosis, Granzymes, Humans, Immunity, Innate, Jurkat Cells, Microscopy, Fluorescence, Perforin, Secretory Vesicles