Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 4, 2025
10:07
High-throughput Measurement of Plasma Membrane Resealing Efficiency in Mammalian Cells
Published on: January 7, 2019
7.8K
Cholesterol-dependent cytolysins: The outstanding questions
Bronte A Johnstone1,2, Riya Joseph1,2, Michelle P Christie1,2
1Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
IUBMB Life
|July 15, 2022
Summary
Cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs) are bacterial toxins that form pores in cell membranes. This review explores how these toxins convert from soluble monomers to membrane-spanning pores and identifies key questions for future research.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs) are secreted virulence factors from Gram-positive bacteria.
- CDCs are soluble, monomeric proteins that target cholesterol-rich cell membranes.
Approach:
- This review synthesizes current knowledge on CDC function.
- It highlights unresolved questions regarding the monomer-to-pore transition.
Key Points:
- CDCs bind to cholesterol-rich membranes and oligomerize into large, ring-shaped pores composed of over 30 monomers.
- The precise mechanistic steps of pore formation remain incompletely understood.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive understanding of CDC-mediated cell lysis requires further investigation into the dynamic process of pore assembly.
- Answering outstanding questions is crucial for a complete picture of how these bacterial toxins function.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation
662
Although not a source of energy, cholesterol plays a significant role as a foundational structure for bile salts, steroid hormones, and vitamin D, as well as being a crucial component of plasma membranes. Approximately 15% of blood cholesterol is derived from our diet, with the remainder synthesized from acetyl CoA by the liver and intestines. Cholesterol is eliminated from the body through its conversion into bile salts, which are eventually discarded in the feces.
Considering cholesterol and...
Considering cholesterol and...
662
01:29Biosynthesis of Lipids
84
Microbial membranes exhibit remarkable diversity in lipid composition, reflecting evolutionary adaptations to various environmental conditions. The three domains of life—Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya—synthesize membrane lipids through distinct biosynthetic pathways, leading to fundamental structural differences that impact membrane stability, function, and adaptability.Fatty Acid-Based Lipids in Bacteria and EukaryaBacteria and eukaryotes share a common fatty acid biosynthesis...
84