Clarification of Mechanism Underlying Destruction of Red Blood Cells by Pathogenic Bacteria (Press Release)
- Release Date
- 29 Sep, 2014
- BL41XU (Structural Biology I)
Hokkaido University
Key Points
•Pore-forming toxins secreted by pathogenic bacteria form transmembrane pores and destroy human red blood cells.
•The prepore structure is determined to clarify the formation mechanism of transmembrane pores.
• The transmembrane pores used as molecular devices1) are expected to be utilized as pore-formation-based devices in the future.
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The pore-forming toxins secreted by pathogenic bacteria destroy red blood cells upon contact by forming transmembrane pores. They are secreted as water-soluble monomeric proteins and contact with red blood cells in a circular form, then change their structure significantly to form transmembrane pores. In this study, the action mechanism of staphylococcal pore-forming toxins was clarified by X-ray crystallographic technique using high spec X-ray beam of SPring-8. It was considered that transmembrane pores are formed immediately; however, the research group clarified that the upper and lower regions of transmembrane pores are formed independently. The transmembrane pores have been applied as molecular devices by taking advantage of their capability of allowing substances to pass through the pores. The mechanism of transmembrane formation clarified in this study is expected to be applied to new molecular devices. Publication: |
《Figures》
《Glossary》
1)Molecular devices
Molecular devices are molecules that have specific functions unique to proteins and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), developed by utilizing properties such as the ability to identify a particular target for binding and the ability to associate with a molecule having a particular shape. Thus far, molecular devices for delivering medical agents to a particular site using virus particles have been developed.
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- Clarification of Mechanism Underlying Destruction of Red Blood Cells by Pathogenic Bacteria (Press Release)