This article is within the scope of WikiProject Molecular Biology, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of molecular biology on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.Molecular BiologyWikipedia:WikiProject Molecular BiologyTemplate:WikiProject Molecular BiologyMolecular Biology
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Viruses, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of viruses on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.VirusesWikipedia:WikiProject VirusesTemplate:WikiProject Virusesvirus
Latest comment: 12 years ago2 comments2 people in discussion
According to my understanding of the article "Lysin" [# "Mode of action"] (I have no independent knowledge on the topic) holins act directly on the bacterial cell membrane, resulting in hole(s) in that membrane so that lysins are provided access to the cell wall where lysins directly accomplish the destruction of the cell wall. This article does not mention any role of holin in connection with the cell membrane, but rather states that "[h]olins ... trigger and control the degradation of the host's cell wall ...." This language strongly suggests, although doesn't definitively assert, that holins act directly on the cell wall. If my understanding is correct, then this article should be rewritten to clarify to the reader that cell membrane and cell wall are distinct structures in bacteria (as they are in plants and fungi and a variety of other eukaryotes), that holins directly act only on cell membranes, but such action enables lysins to gain access to the cell wall where they (lysins) in turn destroy the integrity of the cell wall. Ray Glock-Grueneich (talk) 15:15, 31 March 2014 (UTC)Reply
Good catch. Clarified in the lead. Still, it definitely needs a section on function, I just never had the time to properly expand the article. Neodop (talk) 19:03, 8 April 2014 (UTC)Reply
