Cholesterol and the activity of bacterial toxins

FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2004 Sep 15;238(2):281-9. doi: 10.1016/j.femsle.2004.07.059.

Abstract

Cholesterol may affect the activity of microbial toxins in a direct, specific way, or it may exert indirect effects because of its role in membrane fluidity, membrane line tension, and in the stabilization of rafts in the cytoplasmic membrane. The thiol-activated toxins of gram-positive bacteria, and the cytolysin of Vibrio cholerae are presented as examples of specific toxin-cholesterol interaction. Several mechanisms of indirect effects of cholesterol are discussed using examples such as Staphylococcus aureus alpha-hemolysin, aerolysin, and diphtheria toxin.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Toxins / metabolism*
  • Cell Membrane / chemistry
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane Permeability
  • Cholesterol / chemistry
  • Cholesterol / metabolism*
  • Humans

Substances

  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Cholesterol