title: Vitamin B2-mediated cellular photoinhibition of botulinum neurotoxin A.
abstract: Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is the most toxic species known to humans and has been identified as a potential bioterrorist threat. Unfortunately, the only existing countermeasures for BoNT intoxication involve vaccinations that are only effective prior to entry of the toxin into neuronal cells. Herein, we disclose the ability of the micronutrient riboflavin (vitamin B(2)) to photooxidatively inactivate BoNT in cell-based assays without the need for toxin and riboflavin pre-exposure. In total, this study suggests that botulism neurotoxicity may be blunted with photodynamic therapy technology.
authors.affiliation: The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Eubanks
authors.forename: Tobin J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Dickerson
authors.forename: Kim D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Janda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023482:Bioterrorism; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010777:Photochemistry; D051381:Rats; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A; D012256:Riboflavin