Kyoto University researchers reveal bacterial toxin pore formation mechanism

Researchers have utilized cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to reveal the step-by-step process by which bacterial toxins create pores in cell membranes. The study, a collaborative effort involving Kyoto Sangyo University and Kyoto University, identified eight distinct pre-pore structures, ranging from Prepore I to Prepore VIII.

The findings demonstrate that the structural changes do not occur simultaneously across all molecules. Instead, the process functions like a “domino effect,” where structural changes are transmitted sequentially to adjacent molecules. The research suggests that the formation of the Φ (phi) clamp may serve as a critical structural checkpoint during the transition from a pre-pore state to a completed pore.