Cells that are sensitive to the channel-forming toxin aerolysin contain surface glycoproteins
that bind the toxin with high affinity. Here we show that a common feature of aerolysin
receptors is the presence of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor, and we present evidence
that the anchor itself is an essential part of the toxin binding determinant. The
glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored T-lymphocyte protein Thy-1 is an example of a
protein that acts as an aerolysin receptor. This protein retained its ability to bind aerolysin …