title: Haemolysin-derived synthetic peptides with pore-forming and haemolytic activity.
abstract: Escherichia coli haemolysin (Hlya) is a pore-forming protein which belongs to the family of 'Repeat-toxins' (RTX) (Lo et al., 1987; Lally et al., 1989; Kraig et al., 1990). A model for the pore-forming structure of HlyA has been proposed (Ludwig et al., 1991) which consists of eight transmembrane segments all present in this hydrophobic region of HlyA. We report here that two synthetic peptides of 10 and 8 amino acids in length (Pep1 and Pep2, respectively), which are derived from transmembrane segment V, are able to form pores in an artificial lipid bilayer. In addition, Pep1 exhibits strong haemolytic activity when tested on human red blood cells (HRBCs). The haemolytic activity of Pep1 and of E. coli haemolysin is completely inhibited by antibodies raised against Pep1.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Genetik und Mikrobiologie, Universität Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Oropeza-Wekerle
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Briand
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Goebel
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane; D004926:Escherichia coli; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D011487:Protein Conformation
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C036507:Hlya protein, E coli; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D009842:Oligopeptides