Secretory granule-mediated cell death is one of the the key mechanisms for elimination of virus-infected and transformed target cells by cytotoxic lymphocytes.
Perforin, also known as the pore-forming protein, pfp, is a 70 kD cytolytic protein expressed in the cytoplasmic granules of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer (NK) cells.
Perforin is a calcium-dependent pore forming cytolytic protein. Perforin is partially homologous to the terminal components of the membrane attack complex of complement and produces pores of up to 20nm in diameter on target membranes.
Perforin, also known as the pore-forming protein, pfp, is a 70 kD cytolytic protein expressed in the cytoplasmic granules of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer (NK) cells.