An enzyme or protein produced by a cell that breaks down its own cell wall or cellular structures, causing the cell to destroy itself.
From 'autolysis' + '-in' (substance or enzyme). Formed in biochemistry during the 20th century to identify the specific proteins responsible for cell self-destruction.
Autolysins are like tiny molecular scissors your cells carry around just in case they need to dismantle themselves—bacteria use them to break through their own walls when they divide.
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