Possible conformation of delta-lysin,a membrane-damaging peptide of Staphylococcus aureus

It is proposed that staphylococcal delta-lysin, a membrane-damaging peptide of 26 residues adopts an α-helical rod-like configuration with separate hydrophilic and hydrophobic faces. Association of six such monomers in a cell membrane may result in the formation of a transmembrane “pore” lined by the hydrophilic faces of the monomers.