AUTOLYSIN Meaning and
Definition
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Autolysin is a term commonly used in microbiology and biochemistry to refer to a protein enzyme that promotes self-destruction or degradation of cells. Specifically, autolysins are enzymes that catalyze the breakdown of the cell wall or membrane of a microorganism, leading to its disintegration and cell death.
The process of autolysis, facilitated by autolysins, is an essential physiological mechanism that occurs during the growth, development, and death of cells. Autolysins play a crucial role in various biological processes, including bacterial cell wall remodeling, recycling of cellular components, and innate immune response.
The action of autolysins involves the degradation of various macromolecules such as peptidoglycans, lipids, and nucleic acids, resulting in the disruption of cellular integrity. This degradation is typically achieved through hydrolysis reactions, where bonds within the molecular structure are cleaved by the autolysin enzyme.
Autolysins are produced by a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and some viruses. In bacteria, autolysins are particularly important for cell division, allowing for the separation of daughter cells after replication.
Understanding the mechanisms and regulation of autolysins is of great interest in both fundamental research and biomedical applications. Manipulation of autolysis can have important implications in the development of new antimicrobial strategies, such as the design of novel antibiotics targeting autolysin enzymes.
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An hemolysin in the plasma which will destroy the blood cells of the same individual.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for AUTOLYSIN
- zutolysin
- sutolysin
- wutolysin
- qutolysin
- ahtolysin
- ajtolysin
- aitolysin
- a8tolysin
- a7tolysin
- aurolysin
- aufolysin
- augolysin
- auyolysin
- au6olysin
- au5olysin
- autilysin
- autklysin
- autllysin
- autplysin
- aut0lysin
Etymology of AUTOLYSIN
The word "autolysin" has its roots in the combination of two Greek terms: "auto" (αὐτό), meaning "self", and "lysis" (λύσις), meaning "loosening" or "breaking apart". The term was coined by scientists to describe an enzyme that causes the self-digestion or breakdown of cells. The prefix "auto" relates to the self-destructive nature of the enzyme, while "lysin" pertains to its ability to cause lysis or disintegration.
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