What is another word for lysin?
Pronunciation: [lˈa͡ɪsɪn] (IPA) 
Lysin is a term used in microbiology to describe a protein or enzyme that lyses or breaks down bacterial cell walls. Synonyms for lysin include bacteriolytic enzyme, bacteriophage lyase, endolysin, and muralytic enzyme. Bacteriophage lyases are specific types of lysins that are produced by bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria, to break down the bacterial cell wall and release virions. Endolysins are also lysins that are produced by bacteria themselves to lyse cells during the final stages of bacterial cell division. Muralytic enzymes are also lysins that target structural components of the cell wall, such as peptidoglycan. Synonyms for lysin are commonly used in the research of antimicrobial agents and therapeutic interventions for bacterial infections.
