Functional characterisation of tetanus and botulinum neurotoxins binding domains.
Tetanus and botulinum neurotoxins constitute a family of bacterial protein toxins responsible for two deadly syndromes in humans (tetanus and botulism, respectively). They bind with high affinity to neurons wherein they cause a complete inhibition of evoked neurotransmitter release. Here we report on the cloning, expression and use of the recombinant fragments of the heavy chains of tetanus neurotoxin and botulinum neurotoxin serotypes A, B and E as tools to study the neurospecific binding of the holotoxins. We found that the recombinant 50 kDa carboxy-terminal domains of tetanus and botulinum neurotoxins alone are responsible for the specific binding and internalisation into spinal cord cells in culture. Moreover, we provide evidence that the recombinant fragments block the internalization of the parental holotoxins in a dose-dependent manner, as determined by following the neurotoxin-dependent cleavage of their targets VAMP/synaptobrevin and SNAP-25. In addition, the recombinant binding fragments cause a significant delay in the paralysis induced by the corresponding holotoxin on the mouse phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm preparation. Taken together, these results show that the carboxy-terminal domain of tetanus and botulinum neurotoxins is necessary and sufficient for the binding and internalisation of these proteins in neurons and open the possibility to use them as tools for the functional characterisation of the intracellular transport of clostridial neurotoxins.
Molecular Neuropathobiology, Imperial Cancer Research Fund, London WC2A 3PX, UK.
G
G
Lalli
J
J
Herreros
S L
SL
Osborne
C
C
Montecucco
O
O
Rossetto
G
G
Schiavo
D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D050683:R-SNARE Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050600:SNARE Proteins; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology; D013744:Tetanus Toxin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins
D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D050683:R-SNARE Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D050600:SNARE Proteins; D013744:Tetanus Toxin; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; D001905:Botulinum Toxins