Cryo-EM structure of lysenin pore elucidates membrane insertion by an aerolysin family protein

Abstract

Lysenin is member of the aerolysin family of small ß-barrel pore-forming toxins that include virulence factors from several human and animal pathogens. Here the authors determine the structure of the lysenin pore by single particle cryo- EM and propose a conserved pore formation mechanism for the aerolysin protein family.