REVIEW: Pore-Forming Proteins and Adaptation of Living Organisms to Environmental Conditions

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Zh. I. Andreeva-Kovalevskaya¹, A. S. Solonin^1*, E. V. Sineva¹, and V. I. Ternovsky²*

¹Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia; E-mail: solonin@ibpm.pushchino.ru

²Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia; E-mail: vternovsky@mail.ru

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received July 16, 2008; Revision received August 4, 2008

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Pore-forming proteins are powerful “tools” for adaptation of living organisms to environmental conditions. A wide range of these proteins isolated from various sources, from viruses to mammals, has been used for the analysis of their role in the processes of intra- and inter-species competition, defense, attack, and signaling. Here we review a large number of pore-forming proteins from the perspective of their functions, structures, and mechanisms of membrane penetration. Various mechanisms of cell damage, executed by these proteins in the course of formation of a pore and after its passing to conducting state, have been considered: endo- and exocytosis, lysis, necrosis, apoptosis, etc. The role of pore-forming proteins in evolution is discussed. The relevance of practical application of pore formers has been shown, including application in nanotechnological constructions.

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KEY WORDS: pore-forming proteins, adaptation, pore structure, apoptosis, nanotechnology

DOI: 10.1134/S0006297908130087

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