Lysenin

Lysenin is a pore-forming toxin (PFT) present in the coelomic fluid of the earthworm Eisenia fetida. Pore-forming toxins are a group of proteins that act as virulence factors of several pathogenic bacteria. Lysenin proteins are chiefly involved in the defense against cellular pathogens.[1] Following the general mechanism of action of PFTs lysenin is segregated as a soluble monomer that binds specifically to a membrane receptor, sphingomyelin in the case of lysenin. After attaching to the membrane, the oligomerization begins, resulting in a nonamer on top of membrane, known as a prepore. After a conformational change, which could be triggered by a decrease of pH, the oligomer is inserted into the membrane in the so-called pore state.

  1. ^ Bruhn, Heike; Winkelmann, Julia; Andersen, Christian; Andrä, Jörg; Leippe, Matthias (2006). "Dissection of the mechanisms of cytolytic and antibacterial activity of lysenin, a defence protein of the annelid Eisenia fetida". Developmental and Comparative Immunology. 30 (7): 597–606. doi:10.1016/j.dci.2005.09.002. PMID 16386304.