Hemolysin

Leukocidin/Hemolysin toxin
Staphylococcus aureus alpha toxin from S. aureus (PDB: 7AHL​).
Identifiers
SymbolLeukocidin
PfamPF07968
Pfam clanCL0636
InterProIPR036435
Available protein structures:
Pfam  structures / ECOD  
PDBRCSB PDB; PDBe; PDBj
PDBsumstructure summary

Hemolysins or haemolysins are lipids and proteins that cause lysis of red blood cells by disrupting the cell membrane. Although the lytic activity of some microbe-derived hemolysins on red blood cells may be of great importance for nutrient acquisition, many hemolysins produced by pathogens do not cause significant destruction of red blood cells during infection. However, hemolysins are often capable of lysing red blood cells in vitro.

While most hemolysins are protein compounds, some are lipid biosurfactants.[1]

  1. ^ Stipcevic T, Piljac T, Isseroff RR (November 2005). "Di-rhamnolipid from Pseudomonas aeruginosa displays differential effects on human keratinocyte and fibroblast cultures". J. Dermatol. Sci. 40 (2): 141–3. doi:10.1016/j.jdermsci.2005.08.005. PMC 1592130. PMID 16199139.