Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:3.4.24.69 (botulinum neurotoxin)
 1,901 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Production of botulinum-like neurotoxin by a non-Clostridium botulinum organism has profound implications in the epidemiology of the disease botulism. Molecular topography of the approximately 150 kDa neurotoxic protein produced by Clostridium butyricum (strain 5839) and its activation kinetics were examined and compared with a serologically related botulinum neurotoxin produced by C. botulinum type E to further characterize the butyricum neurotoxin. Botulinum neurotoxin was fully activated within 30 min of incubation with trypsin, whereas butyricum neurotoxin achieved maximum activation within 5 min of incubation. Molecular topography of the two neurotoxins was analyzed in terms of secondary structures and the surface accessibilities of the polypeptide domains containing aromatic amino acids. The secondary structure parameters of the butyricum neurotoxin (alpha-helix 22%, beta-sheet 41% and random coil 37%), as estimated from the far ultraviolet circular dichroic spectra, appeared similar to that of botulinum neurotoxin. (Singh, B.R. and DasGupta, B.R., (1989) Mol. Cell. Biochem. 86, 87). Second derivative ultraviolet spectral analysis revealed 37 and 41 Tyr residues exposed on the surface of butyricum and botulinum neurotoxins, respectively, suggesting a differential surface accessibility of polypeptide segments containing Tyr residues. Fluorescent Trp residues in both the botulinum type E and butyricum neurotoxins were in a relatively hydrophobic environment as indicated by the blue-shifted emission maxima (334 nm). About half of the fluorescent Trp residues of both proteins were accessible to acrylamide, a neutral fluorescence quencher, and appeared to be in a similar molecular environment. The ionic surface probe, I-, quenched the Trp fluorescence of botulinum significantly, but not that of butyricum neurotoxin. Thus, a considerable number of fluorescent Trp residues were apparently located on the surface of the botulinum, but not on that of the butyricum neurotoxin. Botulinum and butyricum neurotoxins, indistinguishable by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, migrated differently in the absence of sodium dodecyl sulfate suggesting difference(s) in their surface charge distribution. These results provide the first report of the secondary and tertiary structure parameters of the neurotoxin produced by a non-botulinum species and comparison of the molecular topography of the neurotoxin with the antigenically related botulinum neurotoxin type E.
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PMID:Comparative molecular topography of botulinum neurotoxins from Clostridium butyricum and Clostridium botulinum type E. 190 Dec 21

The secondary and tertiary structural features of botulinum neurotoxin (NT) serotype A, a dichain protein (Mr 145,000), and its two subunits, the heavy (H) and light (L) chains (Mr 97,000 and 53,000, respectively) were examined using circular dichroism and fluorescence spectorscopy. Nearly 70% of the amino acid residues in each of the three polypeptide preparations were found in ordered structure (sum of alpha helix, beta sheet and beta turns). Also, the alpha helix, beta sheet, beta turns and random coil contents of the dichain NT were nearly equal to the weighted mean of each of these secondary structure parameters of the L and H chains; e.g., sum of alpha helix of L chain (22%) and H chain (18.7%), as weighted mean, 19.8% was similar to that of NT (20%). These agreements suggested that the secondary structures of the subunits of the dichain NT do not significantly change when they are separated as isolated L and H chains. Fluorescence emission maximum of L chain, 4 nm less (blue shift) than that of H chain, suggested relatively more hydrophobic environment of fluorescent tryptophan residue(s) of L chain. Tryptophan fluorescence quantum yields of L chain, H chain and the NT, 0.072, 0.174 and 0.197, respectively, suggested that a) an alteration in the micro-environment of the tryptophan residues was possibly caused by interactions of L and H chain subunits of the NT and b) quantum yields for L and H chains were altered when they are together as subunits of the NT. Possible implications of structural features of the L and H chains, their interactions and the molecular mechanism of action of botulinum NT are assessed.
Mol Cell Biochem 1989 Jan 23
PMID:Structure of heavy and light chain subunits of type A botulinum neurotoxin analyzed by circular dichroism and fluorescence measurements. 272 81

The alkaline pH induced difference spectra (270-310 nm) of three antigenically distinct forms of the botulinum neurotoxin (NT) types A, B and E were examined. When isolated from the cultures of Clostridium botulinum, type A NT is a fully toxic dichain (nicked) protein, type E is a mildly toxic single chain (unnicked) protein, and type B NT is a mixture of single and dichain proteins and near fully toxic. Trypsin nicks the single chain protein to the dichain and increases its toxicity (up to about 100 fold in type E). A strong difference spectrum peak at approximately 296 nm was found when types A, B or E NT were in the alkaline pH region. This peak was not observed at pH 4.0. For types A and B NT plots of difference absorptivity vs. pH were simple sigmoidal curves. The pK of phenolic moieties of tyrosine residues in both proteins were 10.9. Nearly all tyrosine residues in both proteins were ionized. The single chain type E, unlike type A and B NT, yielded a two step titration curve and pK values 11.3 and less than 7.5; about 60% of the total tyrosine residues present were ionized. The two step titration curve was not observed when the single chain protein was nicked with trypsin to the dichain type E NT. The titration curve of dichain type E NT, although complex, was more like those of type A and B NT.
Mol Cell Biochem 1988 Jun
PMID:Botulinum neurotoxin types A, B & E: pH induced difference spectra. 305 Apr 52

Reductive methylation of botulinum neurotoxin (NT) serotypes A and B at various ratios of protein to reagent modified up to 75% of the lysine residues. Amino acid analysis of the modified proteins (HCl hydrolysed) confirmed selective modifications of lysine. The derivative N,N-dimethyl lysine was more abundant than monomethyl lysine; trimethyl lysine was not detected. Distribution of modified lysine residues among the heavy and light chains (Mr approximately 100,000 and approximately 50,000, respectively) of the dichain type A NT (Mr approximately 150,000) was approximately proportional to the lysine contents of the two subunit chains of the NT. Toxicity (mouse lethality) and serological reactivity (polyclonal antibody) of serotype A NT were not (or insignificantly) damaged following methylation of up to 72 lysine residues. Modification of 3 additional residues caused precipitous loss in toxicity. Toxicity of serotype B NT, unlike type A, appeared more sensitive to lysine modification. The large number of lysine residues that can be methylated without damaging toxicity of type A NT can be exploited to a) radiolabel the dichain protein exclusively in one chain keeping the other chain unlabelled, b) restrict the number of tryptic cleavage sites of the NT, and c) tag the protein with various markers or reactive ligands.
Mol Cell Biochem 1988 Sep
PMID:Reductive methylation of lysine residues of botulinum neurotoxin types A and B. 314 88

A 12.3 kb DNA fragment encompassing the botulinum neurotoxin C1 (BoNT/C1) gene and an upstream flanking region was sequenced from Clostridium botulinum C 468 phage 1C. The resulting bont/C1 locus includes six genes which are organized into three transcriptional units. Cluster 1 encompasses the bont/C1 gene and an upstream gene encoding a non-toxic protein associated with the toxin (Antp139/C1). Transcriptional analysis revealed that these two genes form an operon; the bont/C1 gene can be transcribed alone or co-transcribed with antp139/C1. Cluster 2 encompasses three genes (antp33/C1, antp17/C1 and antp70/C1), which also form an operon. The corresponding proteins are similar to components of the hemagglutinin complex associated with BoNT/A and BoNT/B of C. botulinum A and B. In addition, Antp33/C1 is identical to HA-33, an hemagglutinin encoded by C. botulinum C-Stockholm phage C-St; Antp70/C1 displays some relatedness to C. perfringens enterotoxin. The third transcriptional unit consists of orf-22, which encodes a basic protein showing 29% identity with the gene product of uviA, a plasmid-encoded protein of 22 kDa which has been identified as a positive regulator of the bacteriocin production in C. perfringens. Orf-22 could be an effector controlling the expression of the bont/C1 and its antp genes in C. botulinum C 468.
Mol Gen Genet 1994 Jun 15
PMID:Organization of the botulinum neurotoxin C1 gene and its associated non-toxic protein genes in Clostridium botulinum C 468. 802 79

Botulism toxicity is caused by botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), a group of protein neurotoxins produced by Clostridium botulinum. Recent studies have shown that immunization with a C-terminal fragment [H(C), residues 855-1296] of BoNT type A (BoNT/A) affords excellent protection against BoNT/A toxicity. The present work was carried out in order to map the molecular and cellular immunological recognition of H(C). We have previously described the synthesis of 31 overlapping peptides encompassing the entire H(C)-fragment of BoNT/A. These peptides were employed in this study to localize the continuous regions recognized by T cells and by antibodies (Abs) generated in two mouse strains against H(C). T cells from SJL that had been primed with H(C) gave a strong proliferative response to challenge in vitro with each of the six peptides spanning residues 897-985 and a lower response to peptide 1051- 1069. While H(C)-primed T cells of BALB/c recognized three regions residing within residues 939-957, 1009-1027 and 1135-1153 (strong). Recognition regions by Abs in SJL or BALB/c anti-H(C) antisera essentially overlapped. However, the level of Abs bound to each region differed between the two strains. These common or similar recognition regions by the two strains were: 855-915 (SJL) or 855-901 (BALB/c); 939-957; 967-1013 (BALB/c) or 981-1013 (SJL); 1051-1069; 1079-1111 (BALB/c) or 1093-1125 (SJL); 1177-1195; and 1275-1296. In addition, BALB/c recognized region 1135-1153. Some of these regions show considerable sequence similarity in BoNT types B and E and, therefore, H(C) of these two BoNTs might offer protection against the correlate clostridial toxins.
Mol Immunol 1997 Oct
PMID:Immune recognition of botulinum neurotoxin type A: regions recognized by T cells and antibodies against the protective H(C) fragment (residues 855-1296) of the toxin. 948 54

The Clostridium botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) A and C1 cleave specific proteins required for neuroexocytosis. We demonstrated that, in intact neurons, BoNT A cleaves 25-kDa synaptosomal-associated protein (SNAP-25), and BoNT C1 cleaves both syntaxin and SNAP-25 (Williamson et al.: Mol Biol Cell 6:61a, 1995; J Biol Chem 271:7694-7699, 1996). Here, we compare the actions of BoNT A and BoNT C1 on mature and developing mouse spinal cord neurons in cell culture and demonstrate that BoNT C1 is severely neurotoxic. In mature cultures, synaptic terminals become enlarged shortly after BoNT C1 exposure, and, subsequently, axons, dendrites, and cell bodies degenerate. Electron microscopy confirms that early degenerative changes occur in synaptic terminals when the somatic cytoplasm appears normal. In newly plated cultures, few neurons survive exposure to BoNT C1. Whereas both BoNT A and BoNT C1 cleave SNAP-25, BoNT A has no adverse effect on neurite outgrowth, synaptogenesis, or neuron survival. This cytotoxicity is unique to BoNT C1, is specific to neurons, and is initiated at the synaptic terminal, suggesting either a novel role for syntaxin or additional actions of BoNT C1. The neurodegeneration induced by BoNT C1 may be significant in terms of its efficacy for the clinical treatment of dystonia and spasticity.
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PMID:Syntaxin and 25-kDa synaptosomal-associated protein: differential effects of botulinum neurotoxins C1 and A on neuronal survival. 963 13

The upstream region of the gene coding for Clostridium botulinum type B (BoNT/B) neurotoxin was cloned and sequenced. There were two open reading frames, which were identified as a nontoxic-nonhemagglutinin component (ntnh/B) and a 22 kDa adjacent open reading frame (orf22/B). Deduced primary structure of ntnh/B showed that it was composed of 1,197 amino acid residues. Pairwise comparisons of the ntnh/B component with other botulinum toxin types showed high degree of homology to ntnh/A (82% identity). Northern blot analysis revealed that toxin gene could be transcribed alone or co-transcribed with the ntnh gene. The orf22/B gene encoding for 178 amino acids (M.W. 21.6 kDa) was located between the 33 kDa hemagglutinin gene and the ntnh gene. Orf22/B also showed high degree of homology to orf22/A (98.9% identity). These results suggested that the upstream region of the BoNT/B gene (containing the ntnh/B and orf22/B genes) might be evolutionarily closely related to the counterparts of the BoNT/A.
Biochem Mol Biol Int 1998 Jun
PMID:Cloning and characterization of the upstream region of Clostridium botulinum type B neurotoxin gene. 967 62

The genes of the botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT) complex are clustered in a locus consisting of two divergent polycistronic operons, one containing the non-toxic, non-haemagglutinin (NTNH) component and bontA genes, the other containing the haemagglutinin (HA) component genes. The two operons are separated by a gene (botR/A, previously called orf21) encoding a 21 kDa protein. A recombinant Clostridium botulinum A strain that overexpresses botR/A was constructed by electroporating strain 62 with the vector pAT19 containing botR/A under the control of its own promoter. The transformed strain produced more BoNT/A and associated non-toxic proteins (ANTPs) and the corresponding mRNAs than the non-transformed strain. Partial inhibition of botR/A by antisense mRNA resulted in lower levels of BoNT/A, NTNH and HA70 and the levels of the corresponding mRNAs. Gel mobility shift assays and immunoprecipitations showed that BotR/A bound to the DNA promoter region upstream from the two BoNT/A complex operons. These results show that botR/A activated transcription of the genes encoding BoNT/A and ANTPs in C. botulinum A by interacting directly with the region promoter, and that the homologous genes in C. botulinum B, C and D presumably have the same function.
Mol Microbiol 1998 Aug
PMID:botR/A is a positive regulator of botulinum neurotoxin and associated non-toxin protein genes in Clostridium botulinum A. 976 69

The clostridial neurotoxins (CNTs), comprised of tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT) and the seven serotypes of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT A-G), specifically bind to neuronal cells and disrupt neurotransmitter release by cleaving proteins involved in synaptic vesicle membrane fusion. In this study, multiple CNT sequences were analyzed within the context of the 1277 residue BoNT/A crystal structure to gain insight into the events of binding, pore formation, translocation, and catalysis that are required for toxicity. A comparison of the TeNT-binding domain structure to that of BoNT/A reveals striking differences in their surface properties. Further, the solvent accessibility of a key tryptophan in the C terminus of the BoNT/A-binding domain refines the location of the ganglioside-binding site. Data collected from a single frozen crystal of BoNT/A are included in this study, revealing slight differences in the binding domain orientation as well as density for a previously unobserved translocation domain loop. This loop and the conservation of charged residues with structural proximity to putative pore-forming sequences lend insight into the CNT mechanism of pore formation and translocation. The sequence analysis of the catalytic domain revealed an area near the active-site likely to account for specificity differences between the CNTs. It revealed also a tertiary structure, highly conserved in primary sequence, which seems critical to catalysis but is 30 A from the active-site zinc ion. This observation, along with an analysis of the 54 residue "belt" from the translocation domain are discussed with respect to the mechanism of catalysis.
J Mol Biol 1999 Sep 03
PMID:Sequence homology and structural analysis of the clostridial neurotoxins. 1051 45


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