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Botulinum toxin (green) gets into cells thanks to synaptotagmin I (red).

From both chemical weapons inspectors and plastic surgeons, botulinum toxins are the focus of intense interest. But how do these incredibly toxic proteins get into cells? On page 1293, Dong et al. demonstrate that botulinum neurotoxin B (BoNT/B) uses the vesicle proteins synaptotagmin I and synaptotagmin II as cellular receptors, and that a fragment of synaptotagmin II can inhibit the toxin's effects in animals.

Of the seven known neurotoxins expressed by Clostridium botulinum, BoNT/A, B, and E are the most common causes of botulism in humans and the major choices for both bioterrorist and pharmaceutical uses. In previous work, researchers identified several cellular proteins that can bind to these toxins, but there were conflicting data about which, if any, of the candidate receptors actually mediate cellular entry. Once inside neurons, the toxins act as proteases to block exocytosis, ultimately leading to paralysis and death.

Using both loss-of-function and gain-of-function approaches, Dong et al. show that synaptotagmin I or synaptotagmin II can act as a receptor to internalize BoNT/B into PC-12 cells. Fusion of synaptic vesicles with the plasma membrane, and thus display of vesicle proteins on the cell surface, occurs during excitation. Indeed, BoNT internalization is dependent on electrical activity in two different cell types. Fragments of synaptotagmin II effectively block the binding of BoNT/B to cultured cells and inhibit the activity of the toxin in mice, providing strong evidence that the interaction is biologically relevant.

In the mouse experiments, an injection of synaptotagmin II fragments partially protected the animals against a subsequent challenge with BoNT/B. This is the first demonstration that a fragment from a bacterial toxin receptor can antagonize the toxin in animals. The authors are now defining the precise requirements for BoNT/B–synaptotagmin II interactions, and are also trying to identify the receptors for other Clostridium neurotoxins.

Alan W. Dove

alanwdove{at}earthlink.net

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Synaptotagmins I and II mediate entry of botulinum neurotoxin B into cells

Min Dong, David A. Richards, Michael C. Goodnough, William H. Tepp, Eric A. Johnson, and Edwin R. Chapman
J. Cell Biol. 2003 162: 1293-1303. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This Article PDF (Full Text) PPT slides of all figures Alert me when this article is cited Services Email this article Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new content in the JCB Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Dove, A. W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Dove, A. W. Related Collections Related Article Social Bookmarking                      What's this?