title: The zinc-dependent protease activity of the botulinum neurotoxins.
abstract: The botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT, serotypes A-G) are some of the most toxic proteins known and are the causative agents of botulism. Following exposure, the neurotoxin binds and enters peripheral cholinergic nerve endings and specifically and selectively cleaves one or more SNARE proteins to produce flaccid paralysis. This review centers on the kinetics of the Zn-dependent proteolytic activities of these neurotoxins, and briefly describes inhibitors, activators and factors underlying persistence of toxin action. Some of the structural, enzymatic and inhibitor data that are discussed here are available at the botulinum neurotoxin resource, BotDB (http://botdb.abcc.ncifcrf.gov).
authors: US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Ft. Detrick, MD, USA. frank.lebeda@amedd.army.mil
authors: Frank J
authors: FJ
authors: Lebeda
authors: Regina Z
authors: RZ
authors: Cer
authors: Uma
authors: U
authors: Mudunuri
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Stephens
authors: Bal Ram
authors: BR
authors: Singh
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Adler
mesh_terms: D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D050600:SNARE Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009498:Neurotoxins; D050600:SNARE Proteins; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D001905:Botulinum Toxins; D015032:Zinc