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The homologous bacterially expressed cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs) form pores via oligomerization; this must occur preferentially once the target membrane has been engaged. Conformational changes in CDCs then drive partition from an aqueous environment to a lipidic one. This review addresses how premature oligomerization is prevented, how conformational changes are triggered, and how cooperativity between subunits brings about new functionality absent from isolated protomers. Variations are found in the answers provided by the CDCs to these issues. Some toxins use pH as a trigger of activity, but recent results have shown that dimerization in solution is an alternative way of preventing premature oligomerization, in particular for the CDC from Clostridium perfringens, perfringolysin. More controversially, there is still no resolution to the debate as to whether incomplete (arciform) oligomers form pores: recent results again suggest that they do.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.str.2005.04.019

Type

Journal article

Journal

Structure

Publication Date

08/2005

Volume

13

Pages

1097 - 1106

Keywords

Cholesterol, Clostridium perfringens, Cytotoxins, Dimerization, Protein Structure, Tertiary