title: Variations in expression and release of botulinum neurotoxin in Clostridium botulinum type A strains.
abstract: In this study, we characterized the production and release of botulinum neurotoxin during growth of two Clostridium botulinum strains, Hall A and NCTC2916, of distinct gene organizations. The intra- and extracellular fractions of the bacterial cells harvested at various stages of growth were analyzed for the neurotoxin. Both strains exhibited a temporal neurotoxin gene expression; however, these two strains differ in their patterns of growth, toxin production, toxin release, and post-translational nicking. Comparing to the NCTC2916 strain, the Hall A strain showed an extended stationary phase, delayed autolysis, and earlier expression and release of neurotoxin. Understanding the differences between these two toxin-producing strains may provide insights into the toxinogenesis of C. botulinum.
authors.affiliation: Biological Sciences Department, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California 91768, USA.
authors.forename: Sphoorthy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Renate L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Starr
authors.forename: Melissa G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Wei-Jen
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D001433:Bacteriolysis; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D001906:Botulism / Q000382:microbiology*; D047013:Clostridium botulinum type A / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005516:Food Microbiology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A