autolysin
|au-to-ly-sin|
/ˈɔːtəˌlaɪsɪn/
self-digesting enzyme
Etymology
'autolysin' originates from Greek elements: 'autós' ( self) and 'lysis' ( a loosening, dissolution), combined in modern scientific coinage to mean an agent that causes self-dissolution.
'autolysin' was formed in scientific English by combining the Greek prefix 'auto-' and the agent-forming element derived from 'lysis' (via New Latin/biological coinage) and became established in microbiological literature in the 19th–20th century.
Initially it denoted an agent causing self-dissolution or lysis; over time it has been used more specifically for enzymes that hydrolyze cell-wall components (especially peptidoglycan) in bacteria, while still retaining the general sense of an enzyme causing autolysis.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an enzyme that causes autolysis by breaking down components of the cell wall or cellular structures, often used to refer to bacterial enzymes that hydrolyze peptidoglycan.
The bacterium produces autolysins that remodel the cell wall during growth.
Synonyms
Noun 2
any enzyme (in tissues or cells) that promotes self-digestion or self-degradation (autolysis) of the cell or tissue.
During tissue injury, autolysins can contribute to the breakdown of damaged cells.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/26 11:46