Tetanolysin is a
toxin
A toxin is a naturally occurring organic poison produced by metabolic activities of living cells or organisms. Toxins occur especially as a protein or conjugated protein. The term toxin was first used by organic chemist Ludwig Brieger (1849 ...
produced by ''
Clostridium tetani
''Clostridium tetani'' is a common soil bacterium and the causative agent of tetanus. Vegetative cells of ''Clostridium tetani'' are usually rod-shaped and up to 2.5 μm long, but they become enlarged and tennis racket- or drumstick-shaped when ...
'' bacteria. Its function is unknown, but it is believed to contribute to the
pathogenesis of
tetanus
Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, is a bacterial infection caused by ''Clostridium tetani'', and is characterized by muscle spasms. In the most common type, the spasms begin in the jaw and then progress to the rest of the body. Each spasm usually ...
. The other ''C. tetani'' toxin,
tetanospasmin, is more definitively linked to tetanus. It is sensitive to oxygen.
Tetanolysin belongs to a family of protein toxins known as
thiol-activated cytolysin
The thiol-activated Cholesterol-dependent Cytolysin (CDC) familyTC# 1.C.12 is a member of the MACPF superfamily. Cholesterol dependent cytolysins are a family of β-barrel pore-forming exotoxins that are secreted by gram-positive bacteria. CDC ...
s, which bind to
cholesterol
Cholesterol is any of a class of certain organic molecules called lipids. It is a sterol (or modified steroid), a type of lipid. Cholesterol is biosynthesized by all animal cells and is an essential structural component of animal cell memb ...
. It is related to
streptolysin O and the θ-toxin of ''
Clostridium perfringens''. Cytolysins form pores in the
cytoplasmic membrane that allows for the passage of
ions and other molecules into the cell. The molecular weight of tetanolysin is around 55,000
daltons.
Tetanolysin
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References
Further reading
*Alouf, J. (1997) pp 7–10 in ''Guidebook to Protein Toxins and Their Use in Cell Biology'', Ed. Rappuoli, R. and Montecucco, C. (Oxford University Press).
*Ahnert-Hilger, G., Pahner, I., and Höltje, M. (1999) ''Pore-forming Toxins as Cell Biological and Pharmacological Tools.'' In press.
*Conti, A., Brando, C., DeBell, K.E., Alava, M.A., Hoffman, T., Bonvini, E. (1993) ''J. Biol. Chem.'' 268, 783-791.
*Raya, S.A., Trembovler, V., Shohami, E. and Lazarovici, P. (1993) ''Nat. Toxins'' 1, 263-70.
Bacterial toxins
Tetanus
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