Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A (PTx) is an extremely potent inhibitor of protein synthesis, similar to diphtheria toxin in its mode of action. It is synthesized in precursor form and secreted as an Mr 66,583 protein lacking a 25-amino acid leader sequence. While the primary sequence and the nature of the enzyme activity that leads to inactivation of elongation factor 2 are known, the mechanism of PTx internalization remains obscure. To elucidate the entry pathway, we examined PTx-membrane interactions using vesicle targets of defined lipid composition. Insertion was monitored with an intramembranous photoreactive probe; pore formation was determined from liposomal swelling rates. Our results show that the efficiency of PTx binding to vesicles increases dramatically with decreasing pH. In general, the insertion efficiency correlated with the binding efficiency. At pH 4, we noted a slight decrease in binding below the melting point (23 degrees C) of the target vesicles. Not only was PTx able to insert into frozen bilayers, but the efficiency of penetration at 0 degrees C was actually somewhat higher than expected based on binding efficiency. Liposome swelling assays analyzed by the Renkin equations indicated that PTx-liposomes made at pH 4 were permeable to solutes up to 2.8 nm in diameter. Pores of a similar size were found when the liposomes were made at pH 7, but the efficiency of pore formation at this pH was very low. Chymotrypsin fragmentation profiles of PTx depended on incubation conditions, e.g., pH, presence of NAD, reducing agents, and membranes. Liposomes containing PTx cleaved at pH 4 displayed up to 40-fold more pore activity than liposomes containing uncleaved PTx or PTx cleaved at pH 7. Pore activity at pH 7 was negligible. Addition of reducing agents caused a 50 to 60% increase in pore activity. Cleaved toxin was active in target membrane insertion even at 0 degrees C, and all of the major fragments were photolabeled.