Pore-forming toxins.

Journal article

Pore-forming toxins are widely distributed proteins which form lesions in biological membranes. In this review, bacterial pore-forming toxins are treated as a paradigm and discussed in terms of the structural principles on which they work. Then, a large family of bacterial toxins, the cholesterol-binding toxins, are analyzed in depth to provide an overview of the processes involved in pore formation. The ways in which the cholesterol-binding toxins (cholesterol-dependent cytolysins) interact with membranes and form pores, the structure of the monomeric soluble and oligomeric pore-forming states, and the effects of the toxin on membrane structure are discussed. By surveying the range of work which has been done on cholesterol-binding toxins, a working model is elaborated which reconciles two current, apparently diametrically opposed, models for their mechanism.

Authors: Gilbert, R

• Journal: Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS
• Volume: 59
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 832-844
• Publication date: 2002-05-01
• DOI: 10.1007/s00018-002-8471-1
• EISSN: 1420-9071
• ISSN: 1420-682X
• Language: English
• Keywords: Models, Molecular; Cell Membrane; Protein Structure, Secondary; Toxins, Biological; Porins; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Cholesterol; Bacterial Toxins; Bacterial Proteins