Holins are a diverse group of small proteins produced by dsDNA
bacteriophages in order to trigger and control the degradation of the host's
cell wall at the end of the
lytic cycle. Holins form pores in the host's cell membrane, allowing
lysins to reach and degrade
peptidoglycan, a component of bacterial cell walls. Holins have been shown to regulate the timing of lysis with great precision. Over 50 unrelated
gene families encode holins, making them the most diverse group of proteins with common function. Together with lysins, holins are being studied for their potential use as
antibacterial agents.