InterPro domain: IPR005830

Aerolysin [ 1 ] is a cytolytic toxin exported by Aeromonas hydrophila, a Gram-negative bacterium associated with diarrhoeal diseases and deep wound infections [ 2 ]. The mature toxin binds to eukaryotic cells and aggregates to form holes (approximately 3 nm in diameter) leading to the destruction of the membrane permeability barrier and osmotic lysis. The structure of proaerolysin has been determined to 2.8A resolution and shows the protoxin to adopt a novel fold [ 3 ]. Images of an aerolysin oligomer derived from electron microscopy have helped to construct a model of the protein and to outline a mechanism by which it might insert into lipid bilayers to form ion channels [ 3 ].

1. Nucleotide sequence of the gene for the hole-forming toxin aerolysin of Aeromonas hydrophila. J. Bacteriol. 169, 2869-71
2. Structure of the Aeromonas toxin proaerolysin in its water-soluble and membrane-channel states. Nature 367, 292-5