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Martínez-Carranza M, Škerlová J, Lee PG, Zhang J, Krč A, Sirohiwal A, Burgin D, Elliott M, Philippe J, Donald S, Hornby F, Henriksson L, Masuyer G, Kaila VRI, Beard M, Dong M, Stenmark P. Activity of botulinum neurotoxin X and its structure when shielded by a non-toxic non-hemagglutinin protein. Commun Chem 2024; 7:179. [PMID: 39138288 PMCID: PMC11322297 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01262-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most potent toxins known and are used to treat an increasing number of medical disorders. All BoNTs are naturally co-expressed with a protective partner protein (NTNH) with which they form a 300 kDa complex, to resist acidic and proteolytic attack from the digestive tract. We have previously identified a new botulinum neurotoxin serotype, BoNT/X, that has unique and therapeutically attractive properties. We present the cryo-EM structure of the BoNT/X-NTNH/X complex and the crystal structure of the isolated NTNH protein. Unexpectedly, the BoNT/X complex is stable and protease-resistant at both neutral and acidic pH and disassembles only in alkaline conditions. Using the stabilizing effect of NTNH, we isolated BoNT/X and showed that it has very low potency both in vitro and in vivo. Given the high catalytic activity and translocation efficacy of BoNT/X, low activity of the full toxin is likely due to the receptor-binding domain, which presents very weak ganglioside binding and exposed hydrophobic surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jana Škerlová
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pyung-Gang Lee
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ajda Krč
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Abhishek Sirohiwal
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Linda Henriksson
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Geoffrey Masuyer
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ville R I Kaila
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Min Dong
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Pål Stenmark
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
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2
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Upton C, Healey J, Rothnie AJ, Goddard AD. Insights into membrane interactions and their therapeutic potential. Arch Biochem Biophys 2024; 755:109939. [PMID: 38387829 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2024.109939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Recent research into membrane interactions has uncovered a diverse range of therapeutic opportunities through the bioengineering of human and non-human macromolecules. Although the majority of this research is focussed on fundamental developments, emerging studies are showcasing promising new technologies to combat conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer's and inflammatory and immune-based disease, utilising the alteration of bacteriophage, adenovirus, bacterial toxins, type 6 secretion systems, annexins, mitochondrial antiviral signalling proteins and bacterial nano-syringes. To advance the field further, each of these opportunities need to be better understood, and the therapeutic models need to be further optimised. Here, we summarise the knowledge and insights into several membrane interactions and detail their current and potential uses therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calum Upton
- School of Biosciences, Health & Life Science, Aston University, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK
| | - Joseph Healey
- Nanosyrinx, The Venture Centre, University of Warwick Science Park, Coventry, CV4 7EZ, UK
| | - Alice J Rothnie
- School of Biosciences, Health & Life Science, Aston University, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK
| | - Alan D Goddard
- School of Biosciences, Health & Life Science, Aston University, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK.
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3
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Liu Z, Lee PG, Krez N, Lam KH, Liu H, Przykopanski A, Chen P, Yao G, Zhang S, Tremblay JM, Perry K, Shoemaker CB, Rummel A, Dong M, Jin R. Structural basis for botulinum neurotoxin E recognition of synaptic vesicle protein 2. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2338. [PMID: 37095076 PMCID: PMC10125960 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37860-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxin E (BoNT/E) is one of the major causes of human botulism and paradoxically also a promising therapeutic agent. Here we determined the co-crystal structures of the receptor-binding domain of BoNT/E (HCE) in complex with its neuronal receptor synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) and a nanobody that serves as a ganglioside surrogate. These structures reveal that the protein-protein interactions between HCE and SV2 provide the crucial location and specificity information for HCE to recognize SV2A and SV2B, but not the closely related SV2C. At the same time, HCE exploits a separated sialic acid-binding pocket to mediate recognition of an N-glycan of SV2. Structure-based mutagenesis and functional studies demonstrate that both the protein-protein and protein-glycan associations are essential for SV2A-mediated cell entry of BoNT/E and for its potent neurotoxicity. Our studies establish the structural basis to understand the receptor-specificity of BoNT/E and to engineer BoNT/E variants for new clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Liu
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Pyung-Gang Lee
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Nadja Krez
- Institute of Toxicology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, 30623, Germany
| | - Kwok-Ho Lam
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Hao Liu
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Adina Przykopanski
- Institute of Toxicology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, 30623, Germany
| | - Peng Chen
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Guorui Yao
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Sicai Zhang
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | | | - Kay Perry
- NE-CAT and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, 60439, USA
| | | | - Andreas Rummel
- Institute of Toxicology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, 30623, Germany
| | - Min Dong
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Rongsheng Jin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
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4
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Structure and activity of botulinum neurotoxin X. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.11.523524. [PMID: 36712025 PMCID: PMC9882044 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.11.523524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most potent toxins known and are used to treat an increasing number of medical disorders. All BoNTs are naturally co-expressed with a protective partner protein (NTNH) with which they form a 300 kDa complex, to resist acidic and proteolytic attack from the digestive tract. We have previously identified a new botulinum neurotoxin serotype, BoNT/X, that has unique and therapeutically attractive properties. We present the cryo-EM structure of the BoNT/X-NTNH/X complex at 3.1 Å resolution. Unexpectedly, the BoNT/X complex is stable and protease resistant at both neutral and acidic pH and disassembles only in alkaline conditions. Using the stabilizing effect of NTNH, we isolated BoNT/X and showed that it has very low potency both in vitro and in vivo . Given the high catalytic activity and translocation efficacy of BoNT/X, low activity of the full toxin is likely due to the receptor-binding domain, which presents weak ganglioside binding and exposed hydrophobic surfaces.
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5
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Ramirez-Franco J, Azzaz F, Sangiardi M, Ferracci G, Youssouf F, Popoff MR, Seagar M, Lévêque C, Fantini J, El Far O. Molecular landscape of BoNT/B bound to a membrane-inserted synaptotagmin/ganglioside complex. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:496. [PMID: 36006520 PMCID: PMC11073447 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04527-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxin serotype B (BoNT/B) uses two separate protein and polysialoglycolipid-binding pockets to interact with synaptotagmin 1/2 and gangliosides. However, an integrated model of BoNT/B bound to its neuronal receptors in a native membrane topology is still lacking. Using a panel of in silico and experimental approaches, we present here a new model for BoNT/B binding to neuronal membranes, in which the toxin binds to a preassembled synaptotagmin-ganglioside GT1b complex and a free ganglioside allowing a lipid-binding loop of BoNT/B to interact with the glycone part of the synaptotagmin-associated GT1b. Furthermore, our data provide molecular support for the decrease in BoNT/B sensitivity in Felidae that harbor the natural variant synaptotagmin2-N59Q. These results reveal multiple interactions of BoNT/B with gangliosides and support a novel paradigm in which a toxin recognizes a protein/ganglioside complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Ramirez-Franco
- 1INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université (AMU), UMR 1072, Unité de Neurobiologie des canaux Ioniques et de la Synapse, 13015, Marseille, France
| | - Fodil Azzaz
- 1INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université (AMU), UMR 1072, Unité de Neurobiologie des canaux Ioniques et de la Synapse, 13015, Marseille, France
| | - Marion Sangiardi
- 1INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université (AMU), UMR 1072, Unité de Neurobiologie des canaux Ioniques et de la Synapse, 13015, Marseille, France
| | - Géraldine Ferracci
- Aix-Marseille Université (AMU), CNRS, INP, Institute of Neurophysiopathology, UMR7051, PINT, PFNT, Marseille, France
| | - Fahamoe Youssouf
- 1INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université (AMU), UMR 1072, Unité de Neurobiologie des canaux Ioniques et de la Synapse, 13015, Marseille, France
| | | | - Michael Seagar
- 1INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université (AMU), UMR 1072, Unité de Neurobiologie des canaux Ioniques et de la Synapse, 13015, Marseille, France
| | - Christian Lévêque
- 1INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université (AMU), UMR 1072, Unité de Neurobiologie des canaux Ioniques et de la Synapse, 13015, Marseille, France.
| | - Jacques Fantini
- 1INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université (AMU), UMR 1072, Unité de Neurobiologie des canaux Ioniques et de la Synapse, 13015, Marseille, France
| | - Oussama El Far
- 1INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université (AMU), UMR 1072, Unité de Neurobiologie des canaux Ioniques et de la Synapse, 13015, Marseille, France.
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6
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Azzaz F, Yahi N, Di Scala C, Chahinian H, Fantini J. Ganglioside binding domains in proteins: Physiological and pathological mechanisms. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2022; 128:289-324. [PMID: 35034721 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2021.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Gangliosides are anionic lipids that form condensed membrane clusters (lipid rafts) and exert major regulatory functions on a wide range of proteins. In this review, we propose a new view of the structural features of gangliosides with special emphasis on emerging properties associated with protein binding modes. We analyze the different possibilities of molecular associations of gangliosides in lipid rafts and the role of cholesterol in this organization. We are particularly interested in amide groups of N-acetylated sugars which make it possible to neutralize the negative charge of the carboxylate group of sialic acids. We refer to this effect as "NH trick" and we demonstrate that it is operative in GM1, GD1a, GD1b and GT1b gangliosides. The NH trick is key to understand the different topologies adopted by gangliosides (chalice-like at the edge of lipid rafts, condensed clusters in central areas) and their impact on protein binding. We define three major types of ganglioside-binding domains (GBDs): α-helical, loop shaped, and large flat surface. We describe the mode of interaction of each GBD with typical reference proteins: synaptotagmin, 5HT1A receptor, cholera and botulinum toxins, HIV-1 surface envelope glycoprotein gp120, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, cellular prion protein, Alzheimer's β-amyloid peptide and Parkinson's disease associated α-synuclein. We discuss the common mechanisms and peculiarities of protein binding to gangliosides in the light of physiological and pathological conditions. We anticipate that innovative ganglioside-based therapies will soon show an exponential growth for the treatment of cancer, microbial infections, and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fodil Azzaz
- INSERM UMR_S 1072, Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Nouara Yahi
- INSERM UMR_S 1072, Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Coralie Di Scala
- Neuroscience Center-HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Henri Chahinian
- INSERM UMR_S 1072, Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Jacques Fantini
- INSERM UMR_S 1072, Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France.
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7
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Structural Analysis of Botulinum Neurotoxins Type B and E by Cryo-EM. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 14:toxins14010014. [PMID: 35050991 PMCID: PMC8781748 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14010014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the causative agents of a potentially lethal paralytic disease targeting cholinergic nerve terminals. Multiple BoNT serotypes exist, with types A, B and E being the main cause of human botulism. Their extreme toxicity has been exploited for cosmetic and therapeutic uses to treat a wide range of neuromuscular disorders. Although naturally occurring BoNT types share a common end effect, their activity varies significantly based on the neuronal cell-surface receptors and intracellular SNARE substrates they target. These properties are the result of structural variations that have traditionally been studied using biophysical methods such as X-ray crystallography. Here, we determined the first structures of botulinum neurotoxins using single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy. The maps obtained at 3.6 and 3.7 Å for BoNT/B and /E, respectively, highlight the subtle structural dynamism between domains, and of the binding domain in particular. This study demonstrates how the recent advances made in the field of single-particle electron microscopy can be applied to bacterial toxins of clinical relevance and the botulinum neurotoxin family in particular.
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8
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Sarmento MJ, Owen MC, Ricardo JC, Chmelová B, Davidović D, Mikhalyov I, Gretskaya N, Hof M, Amaro M, Vácha R, Šachl R. The impact of the glycan headgroup on the nanoscopic segregation of gangliosides. Biophys J 2021; 120:5530-5543. [PMID: 34798138 PMCID: PMC8715245 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Gangliosides form an important class of receptor lipids containing a large oligosaccharide headgroup whose ability to self-organize within lipid membranes results in the formation of nanoscopic platforms. Despite their biological importance, the molecular basis for the nanoscopic segregation of gangliosides is not clear. In this work, we investigated the role of the ganglioside headgroup on the nanoscale organization of gangliosides. We studied the effect of the reduction in the number of sugar units of the ganglioside oligosaccharide chain on the ability of gangliosides GM1, GM2, and GM3 to spontaneously self-organize into lipid nanodomains. To reach nanoscopic resolution and to identify molecular forces that drive ganglioside segregation, we combined an experimental technique, Förster resonance energy transfer analyzed by Monte-Carlo simulations offering high lateral and trans-bilayer resolution with molecular dynamics simulations. We show that the ganglioside headgroup plays a key role in ganglioside self-assembly despite the negative charge of the sialic acid group. The nanodomains range from 7 to 120 nm in radius and are mostly composed of the surrounding bulk lipids, with gangliosides being a minor component of the nanodomains. The interactions between gangliosides are dominated by the hydrogen bonding network between the headgroups, which facilitates ganglioside clustering. The N-acetylgalactosamine sugar moiety of GM2, however, seems to impair the stability of these clusters by disrupting hydrogen bonding of neighboring sugars, which is in agreement with a broad size distribution of GM2 nanodomains. The simulations suggest that the formation of nanodomains is likely accompanied by several conformational changes in the gangliosides, which, however, have little impact on the solvent exposure of these receptor groups. Overall, this work identifies the key physicochemical factors that drive nanoscopic segregation of gangliosides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria J Sarmento
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Michael C Owen
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic; Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Miskolc, 3515 Miskolc, Hungary
| | - Joana C Ricardo
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Barbora Chmelová
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic; Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - David Davidović
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ilya Mikhalyov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Science, Moscow Ul. Miklukho-Maklaya, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Natalia Gretskaya
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Science, Moscow Ul. Miklukho-Maklaya, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Martin Hof
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Mariana Amaro
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Robert Vácha
- CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Radek Šachl
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.
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Cai S, Kumar R, Singh BR. Clostridial Neurotoxins: Structure, Function and Implications to Other Bacterial Toxins. Microorganisms 2021; 9:2206. [PMID: 34835332 PMCID: PMC8618262 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9112206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Gram-positive bacteria are ancient organisms. Many bacteria, including Gram-positive bacteria, produce toxins to manipulate the host, leading to various diseases. While the targets of Gram-positive bacterial toxins are diverse, many of those toxins use a similar mechanism to invade host cells and exert their functions. Clostridial neurotoxins produced by Clostridial tetani and Clostridial botulinum provide a classical example to illustrate the structure-function relationship of bacterial toxins. Here, we critically review the recent progress of the structure-function relationship of clostridial neurotoxins, including the diversity of the clostridial neurotoxins, the mode of actions, and the flexible structures required for the activation of toxins. The mechanism clostridial neurotoxins use for triggering their activity is shared with many other Gram-positive bacterial toxins, especially molten globule-type structures. This review also summarizes the implications of the molten globule-type flexible structures to other Gram-positive bacterial toxins. Understanding these highly dynamic flexible structures in solution and their role in the function of bacterial toxins not only fills in the missing link of the high-resolution structures from X-ray crystallography but also provides vital information for better designing antidotes against those toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuowei Cai
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Dartmouth, MA 02747, USA
| | - Raj Kumar
- Botulinum Research Center, Institute of Advanced Sciences, Dartmouth, MA 02747, USA; (R.K.); (B.R.S.)
| | - Bal Ram Singh
- Botulinum Research Center, Institute of Advanced Sciences, Dartmouth, MA 02747, USA; (R.K.); (B.R.S.)
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10
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Knockin mouse models demonstrate differential contributions of synaptotagmin-1 and -2 as receptors for botulinum neurotoxins. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009994. [PMID: 34662366 PMCID: PMC8553082 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most potent toxins known and are also utilized to treat a wide range of disorders including muscle spasm, overactive bladder, and pain. BoNTs' ability to target neurons determines their specificity, potency, and therapeutic efficacy. Homologous synaptic vesicle membrane proteins synaptotagmin-1 (Syt1) and synaptotagmin-2 (Syt2) have been identified as receptors for BoNT family members including BoNT/B, DC, and G, but their contributions at physiologically relevant toxin concentrations in vivo have yet to be validated and established. Here we generated two knockin mutant mouse models containing three designed point-mutations that specifically disrupt BoNT binding in endogenous Syt1 or Syt2, respectively. Utilizing digit abduction score assay by injecting toxins into the leg muscle, we found that Syt1 mutant mice showed similar sensitivity as the wild type mice, whereas Syt2 mutant mice showed reduced sensitivity to BoNT/B, DC, and G, demonstrating that Syt2 is the dominant receptor at skeletal neuromuscular junctions. We further developed an in vivo bladder injection assay for analyzing BoNT action on bladder tissues and demonstrated that Syt1 is the dominant toxin receptor in autonomic nerves controlling bladder tissues. These findings establish the critical role of protein receptors for the potency and specificity of BoNTs in vivo and demonstrate the differential contributions of Syt1 and Syt2 in two sets of clinically relevant target tissues.
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11
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Mechanism of Ganglioside Receptor Recognition by Botulinum Neurotoxin Serotype E. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22158315. [PMID: 34361086 PMCID: PMC8346984 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The botulinum neurotoxins are potent molecules that are not only responsible for the lethal paralytic disease botulism, but have also been harnessed for therapeutic uses in the treatment of an increasing number of chronic neurological and neuromuscular disorders, in addition to cosmetic applications. The toxins act at the cholinergic nerve terminals thanks to an efficient and specific mechanism of cell recognition which is based on a dual receptor system that involves gangliosides and protein receptors. Binding to surface-anchored gangliosides is the first essential step in this process. Here, we determined the X-ray crystal structure of the binding domain of BoNT/E, a toxin of clinical interest, in complex with its GD1a oligosaccharide receptor. Beyond confirmation of the conserved ganglioside binding site, we identified key interacting residues that are unique to BoNT/E and a significant rearrangement of loop 1228–1237 upon carbohydrate binding. These observations were also supported by thermodynamic measurements of the binding reaction and assessment of ganglioside selectivity by immobilised-receptor binding assays. These results provide a structural basis to understand the specificity of BoNT/E for complex gangliosides.
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12
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Structural Insights into Rational Design of Single-Domain Antibody-Based Antitoxins against Botulinum Neurotoxins. Cell Rep 2021; 30:2526-2539.e6. [PMID: 32101733 PMCID: PMC7138525 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.01.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is one of the most acutely lethal toxins known to humans, and effective treatment for BoNT intoxication is urgently needed. Single-domain antibodies (VHH) have been examined as a countermeasure for BoNT because of their high stability and ease of production. Here, we investigate the structures and the neutralization mechanisms for six unique VHHs targeting BoNT/A1 or BoNT/B1. These studies reveal diverse neutralizing mechanisms by which VHHs prevent host receptor binding or block transmembrane delivery of the BoNT protease domain. Guided by this knowledge, we design heterodimeric VHHs by connecting two neutralizing VHHs via a flexible spacer so they can bind simultaneously to the toxin. These bifunctional VHHs display much greater potency in a mouse co-intoxication model than similar heterodimers unable to bind simultaneously. Taken together, our studies offer insight into antibody neutralization of BoNTs and advance our ability to design multivalent anti-pathogen VHHs with improved therapeutic properties. Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are extremely toxic biothreats. Lam et al. report the crystal structures and neutralizing mechanisms of six unique antitoxin VHHs against BoNT/A1 and BoNT/B1, the two major human pathogenic BoNTs. They then develop a platform for structure-based rational design of bifunctional VHH heterodimers with superior antitoxin potencies.
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13
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The 25 kDa H CN Domain of Clostridial Neurotoxins Is Indispensable for Their Neurotoxicity. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12120743. [PMID: 33255952 PMCID: PMC7760224 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12120743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The extraordinarily potent clostridial neurotoxins (CNTs) comprise tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT) and the seven established botulinum neurotoxin serotypes (BoNT/A-G). They are composed of four structurally independent domains: the roles of the catalytically active light chain, the translocation domain HN, and the C-terminal receptor binding domain HCC are largely resolved, but that of the HCN domain sandwiched between HN and HCC has remained unclear. Here, mutants of BoNT/A, BoNT/B, and TeNT were generated by deleting their HCN domains or swapping HCN domains between each other. Both deletion and replacement of TeNT HCN domain by HCNA and HCNB reduced the biological activity similarly, by ~95%, whereas BoNT/A and B deletion mutants displayed >500-fold reduced activity in the mouse phrenic nerve hemidiaphragm assay. Swapping HCN domains between BoNT/A and B hardly impaired their biological activity, but substitution with HCNT did. Binding assays revealed that in the absence of HCN, not all receptor binding sites are equally well accessible. In conclusion, the presence of HCN is vital for CNTs to exert their neurotoxicity. Although structurally similar, the HCN domain of TeNT cannot equally substitute those of BoNT and vice versa, leaving the possibility that HCNT plays a different role in the intoxication mechanism of TeNT.
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14
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Two VHH Antibodies Neutralize Botulinum Neurotoxin E1 by Blocking Its Membrane Translocation in Host Cells. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12100616. [PMID: 32992561 PMCID: PMC7599855 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12100616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxin serotype E (BoNT/E) is one of the major causes of human botulism, which is a life-threatening disease caused by flaccid paralysis of muscles. After receptor-mediated toxin internalization into motor neurons, the translocation domain (HN) of BoNT/E transforms into a protein channel upon vesicle acidification in endosomes and delivers its protease domain (LC) across membrane to enter the neuronal cytosol. It is believed that the rapid onset of BoNT/E intoxication compared to other BoNT serotypes is related to its swift internalization and translocation. We recently identified two neutralizing single-domain camelid antibodies (VHHs) against BoNT/E1 termed JLE-E5 and JLE-E9. Here, we report the crystal structures of these two VHHs bound to the LCHN domain of BoNT/E1. The structures reveal that these VHHs recognize two distinct epitopes that are partially overlapping with the putative transmembrane regions on HN, and therefore could physically block membrane association of BoNT/E1. This is confirmed by our in vitro studies, which show that these VHHs inhibit the structural change of BoNT/E1 at acidic pH and interfere with BoNT/E1 association with lipid vesicles. Therefore, these two VHHs neutralize BoNT/E1 by preventing the transmembrane delivery of LC. Furthermore, structure-based sequence analyses show that the 3-dimensional epitopes of these two VHHs are largely conserved across many BoNT/E subtypes, suggesting a broad-spectrum protection against the BoNT/E family. In summary, this work improves our understanding of the membrane translocation mechanism of BoNT/E and paves the way for developing VHHs as diagnostics or therapeutics for the treatment of BoNT/E intoxication.
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15
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Davies JR, Masuyer G, Stenmark P. Structural and Biochemical Characterization of Botulinum Neurotoxin Subtype B2 Binding to Its Receptors. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12090603. [PMID: 32957706 PMCID: PMC7551386 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12090603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) can be used therapeutically to treat a wide range of neuromuscular and neurological conditions. A collection of natural BoNT variants exists which can be classified into serologically distinct serotypes (BoNT/B), and further divided into subtypes (BoNT/B1, B2, …). BoNT subtypes share a high degree of sequence identity within the same serotype yet can display large variation in toxicity. One such example is BoNT/B2, which was isolated from Clostridium botulinum strain 111 in a clinical case of botulism, and presents a 10-fold lower toxicity than BoNT/B1. In an effort to understand the molecular mechanisms behind this difference in potency, we here present the crystal structures of BoNT/B2 in complex with the ganglioside receptor GD1a, and with the human synaptotagmin I protein receptor. We show, using receptor-binding assays, that BoNT/B2 has a slightly higher affinity for GD1a than BoNT/B1, and confirm its considerably weaker affinity for its protein receptors. Although the overall receptor-binding mechanism is conserved for both receptors, structural analysis suggests the lower affinity of BoNT/B2 is the result of key substitutions, where hydrophobic interactions important for synaptotagmin-binding are replaced by polar residues. This study provides a template to drive the development of future BoNT therapeutic molecules centered on assessing the natural subtype variations in receptor-binding that appears to be one of the principal stages driving toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan R. Davies
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Geoffrey Masuyer
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden;
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Centre for Therapeutic Innovation, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
- Correspondence: (G.M.); (P.S.)
| | - Pål Stenmark
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden;
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
- Correspondence: (G.M.); (P.S.)
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16
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Sarmento MJ, Ricardo JC, Amaro M, Šachl R. Organization of gangliosides into membrane nanodomains. FEBS Lett 2020; 594:3668-3697. [DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria J. Sarmento
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences Prague 8 Czech Republic
| | - Joana C. Ricardo
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences Prague 8 Czech Republic
| | - Mariana Amaro
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences Prague 8 Czech Republic
| | - Radek Šachl
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences Prague 8 Czech Republic
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17
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Fantini J, Chahinian H, Yahi N. Synergistic antiviral effect of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin in combination against SARS-CoV-2: What molecular dynamics studies of virus-host interactions reveal. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2020; 56:106020. [PMID: 32405156 PMCID: PMC7219429 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2020.106020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Emergence of the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 has led to a global pandemic disease Hydroxychloroquine/azithromycin combination therapy is currently being tested Molecular mimicry between azithromycin and ganglioside sugar is revealed Azithromycin binds to the virus spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and hydroxychloroquine binds to gangliosides Hydroxychloroquine/azithromycin have synergistic effect against SARS-CoV-2 infection
The emergence of SARS-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to a global pandemic disease referred to as coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Hydroxychloroquine (CLQ-OH)/azithromycin (ATM) combination therapy is currently being tested for the treatment of COVID-19, with promising results. However, the molecular mechanism of action of this combination is not yet established. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, this study shows that the drugs act in synergy to prevent any close contact between the virus and the plasma membrane of host cells. Unexpected molecular similarity is shown between ATM and the sugar moiety of GM1, a lipid raft ganglioside acting as a host attachment cofactor for respiratory viruses. Due to this mimicry, ATM interacts with the ganglioside-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. This binding site shared by ATM and GM1 displays a conserved amino acid triad Q-134/F-135/N-137 located at the tip of the spike protein. CLQ-OH molecules are shown to saturate virus attachment sites on gangliosides in the vicinity of the primary coronavirus receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2). Taken together, these data show that ATM is directed against the virus, whereas CLQ-OH is directed against cellular attachment cofactors. We conclude that both drugs act as competitive inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 attachment to the host-cell membrane. This is consistent with a synergistic antiviral mechanism at the plasma membrane level, where therapeutic intervention is likely to be most efficient. This molecular mechanism may explain the beneficial effects of CLQ-OH/ATM combination therapy in patients with COVID-19. Incidentally, the data also indicate that the conserved Q-134/F-135/N-137 triad could be considered as a target for vaccine strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nouara Yahi
- Aix-Marseille Université, 13015 Marseille, France
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18
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Yin L, Masuyer G, Zhang S, Zhang J, Miyashita SI, Burgin D, Lovelock L, Coker SF, Fu TM, Stenmark P, Dong M. Characterization of a membrane binding loop leads to engineering botulinum neurotoxin B with improved therapeutic efficacy. PLoS Biol 2020; 18:e3000618. [PMID: 32182233 PMCID: PMC7077807 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are a family of bacterial toxins with seven major serotypes (BoNT/A–G). The ability of these toxins to target and bind to motor nerve terminals is a key factor determining their potency and efficacy. Among these toxins, BoNT/B is one of the two types approved for medical and cosmetic uses. Besides binding to well-established receptors, an extended loop in the C-terminal receptor-binding domain (HC) of BoNT/B (HC/B) has been proposed to also contribute to toxin binding to neurons by interacting with lipid membranes (termed lipid-binding loop [LBL]). Analogous loops exist in the HCs of BoNT/C, D, G, and a chimeric toxin DC. However, it has been challenging to detect and characterize binding of LBLs to lipid membranes. Here, using the nanodisc system and biolayer interferometry assays, we find that HC/DC, C, and G, but not HC/B and HC/D, are capable of binding to receptor-free lipids directly, with HC/DC having the highest level of binding. Mutagenesis studies demonstrate the critical role of consecutive aromatic residues at the tip of the LBL for binding of HC/DC to lipid membranes. Taking advantage of this insight, we then create a “gain-of-function” mutant HC/B by replacing two nonaromatic residues at the tip of its LBL with tryptophan. Cocrystallization studies confirm that these two tryptophan residues do not alter the structure of HC/B or the interactions with its receptors. Such a mutated HC/B gains the ability to bind receptor-free lipid membranes and shows enhanced binding to cultured neurons. Finally, full-length BoNT/B containing two tryptophan mutations in its LBL, together with two additional mutations (E1191M/S1199Y) that increase binding to human receptors, is produced and evaluated in mice in vivo using Digit Abduction Score assays. This mutant toxin shows enhanced efficacy in paralyzing local muscles at the injection site and lower systemic diffusion, thus extending both safety range and duration of paralysis compared with the control BoNT/B. These findings establish a mechanistic understanding of LBL–lipid interactions and create a modified BoNT/B with improved therapeutic efficacy. Botulinum neurotoxins are a family of bacterial toxins, some of which are approved for medical and cosmetic uses. This study shows that introducing aromatic residues to a lipid binding loop improved therapeutic efficacy of botulinum neurotoxin B by enhancing its ability to bind to lipid membranes at motor nerve terminals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linxiang Yin
- Department of Urology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Department of Microbiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Geoffrey Masuyer
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sicai Zhang
- Department of Urology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Department of Microbiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Urology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Department of Microbiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Shin-Ichiro Miyashita
- Department of Urology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Department of Microbiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | | | | | | | - Tian-min Fu
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Pål Stenmark
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- * E-mail: (PS); (MD)
| | - Min Dong
- Department of Urology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Department of Microbiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (PS); (MD)
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19
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Martínez-Carranza M, Blasco P, Gustafsson R, Dong M, Berntsson RPA, Widmalm G, Stenmark P. Synaptotagmin Binding to Botulinum Neurotoxins. Biochemistry 2019; 59:491-498. [PMID: 31809018 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.9b00554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are exceptionally toxic proteins that cause paralysis but are also extensively used as treatment for various medical conditions. Most BoNTs bind two receptors on neuronal cells, namely, a ganglioside and a protein receptor. Differences in the sequence between the protein receptors from different species can impact the binding affinity and toxicity of the BoNTs. Here we have investigated how BoNT/B, /DC, and /G, all three toxins that utilize synaptotagmin I and II (Syt-I and Syt-II, respectively) as their protein receptors, bind to Syt-I and -II of mouse/rat, bovine, and human origin by isothermal titration calorimetry analysis. BoNT/G had the highest affinity for human Syt-I, and BoNT/DC had the highest affinity for bovine Syt-II. As expected, BoNT/B, /DC, and /G showed very low levels of binding to human Syt-II. Furthermore, we carried out saturation transfer difference (STD) and STD-TOCSY NMR experiments that revealed the region of the Syt peptide in direct contact with BoNT/G, which demonstrate that BoNT/G recognizes the Syt peptide in a model similar to that in the established BoNT/B-Syt-II complex. Our analyses also revealed that regions outside the Syt peptide's toxin-binding region are important for the helicity of the peptide and, therefore, the binding affinity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pilar Blasco
- Department of Organic Chemistry , Stockholm University , SE-106 91 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Robert Gustafsson
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics , Stockholm University , SE-106 91 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Min Dong
- Department of Urology, Boston's Children Hospital, and Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Department of Surgery , Harvard Medical School , Boston , Massachusetts 02115 , United States
| | - Ronnie Per-Arne Berntsson
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics , Umeå University , SE-90187 Umeå , Sweden.,Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine , Umeå University , SE-90187 Umeå , Sweden
| | - Göran Widmalm
- Department of Organic Chemistry , Stockholm University , SE-106 91 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Pål Stenmark
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics , Stockholm University , SE-106 91 Stockholm , Sweden.,Department of Experimental Medical Science , Lund University , SE-221 00 Lund , Sweden
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20
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Gangliosides interact with synaptotagmin to form the high-affinity receptor complex for botulinum neurotoxin B. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:18098-18108. [PMID: 31431523 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1908051116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxin type B (BoNT/B) recognizes nerve terminals by binding to 2 receptor components: a polysialoganglioside, predominantly GT1b, and synaptotagmin 1/2. It is widely thought that BoNT/B initially binds to GT1b then diffuses in the plane of the membrane to interact with synaptotagmin. We have addressed the hypothesis that a GT1b-synaptotagmin cis complex forms the BoNT/B receptor. We identified a consensus glycosphingolipid-binding motif in the extracellular juxtamembrane domain of synaptotagmins 1/2 and confirmed by Langmuir monolayer, surface plasmon resonance, and circular dichroism that GT1b interacts with synaptotagmin peptides containing this sequence, inducing α-helical structure. Molecular modeling and tryptophan fluorescence spectroscopy were consistent with the intertwining of GT1b and synaptotagmin, involving cis interactions between the oligosaccharide and ceramide moieties of GT1b and the juxtamembrane and transmembrane domains of synaptotagmin, respectively. Furthermore, a point mutation on synaptotagmin, located outside of the BoNT/B-binding segment, inhibited GT1b binding and blocked GT1b-induced potentiation of BoNT/B binding to synaptotagmin-expressing cells. Our findings are consistent with a model in which a preassembled GT1b-synaptotagmin complex constitutes the high-affinity BoNT/B receptor.
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21
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Bioinformatic discovery of a toxin family in Chryseobacterium piperi with sequence similarity to botulinum neurotoxins. Sci Rep 2019; 9:1634. [PMID: 30733520 PMCID: PMC6367388 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37647-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridial neurotoxins (CNTs), which include botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) and tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT), are the most potent toxins known to science and are the causative agents of botulism and tetanus, respectively. The evolutionary origins of CNTs and their relationships to other proteins remains an intriguing question. Here we present a large-scale bioinformatic screen for putative toxin genes in all currently available genomes. We detect a total of 311 protein sequences displaying at least partial homology to BoNTs, including 161 predicted toxin sequences that have never been characterized. We focus on a novel toxin family from Chryseobacterium piperi with homology to BoNTs. We resequenced the genome of C. piperi to confirm and further analyze the genomic context of these toxins, and also examined their potential toxicity by expression of the protease domain of one C. piperi toxin in human cells. Our analysis suggests that these C. piperi sequences encode a novel family of metalloprotease toxins that are distantly related to BoNTs with similar domain architecture. These toxins target a yet unknown class of substrates, potentially reflecting divergence in substrate specificity between the metalloprotease domains of these toxins and the related metalloprotease domain of clostridial neurotoxins.
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22
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Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are a family of bacterial protein toxins produced by various Clostridium species. They are traditionally classified into seven major serotypes (BoNT/A-G). Recent progress in sequencing microbial genomes has led to an ever-growing number of subtypes, chimeric toxins, BoNT-like toxins, and remotely related BoNT homologs, constituting an expanding BoNT superfamily. Recent structural studies of BoNTs, BoNT progenitor toxin complexes, tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT), toxin-receptor complexes, and toxin-substrate complexes have provided mechanistic understandings of toxin functions and the molecular basis for their variations. The growing BoNT superfamily of toxins present a natural repertoire that can be explored to develop novel therapeutic toxins, and the structural understanding of their variations provides a knowledge basis for engineering toxins to improve therapeutic efficacy and expand their clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Dong
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Pål Stenmark
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
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23
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Elliott M, Favre-Guilmard C, Liu SM, Maignel J, Masuyer G, Beard M, Boone C, Carré D, Kalinichev M, Lezmi S, Mir I, Nicoleau C, Palan S, Perier C, Raban E, Zhang S, Dong M, Stenmark P, Krupp J. Engineered botulinum neurotoxin B with improved binding to human receptors has enhanced efficacy in preclinical models. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaau7196. [PMID: 30746458 PMCID: PMC6357751 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aau7196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Although botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A) products are common treatments for various disorders, there is only one commercial BoNT/B product, whose low potency, likely stemming from low affinity toward its human receptor synaptotagmin 2 (hSyt2), has limited its therapeutic usefulness. We express and characterize two full-length recombinant BoNT/B1 proteins containing designed mutations E1191M/S1199Y (rBoNT/B1MY) and E1191Q/S1199W (rBoNT/B1QW) that enhance binding to hSyt2. In preclinical models including human-induced pluripotent stem cell neurons and a humanized transgenic mouse, this increased hSyt2 affinity results in high potency, comparable to that of BoNT/A. Last, we solve the cocrystal structure of rBoNT/B1MY in complex with peptides of hSyt2 and its homolog hSyt1. We demonstrate that neuronal surface receptor binding limits the clinical efficacy of unmodified BoNT/B and that modified BoNT/B proteins have promising clinical potential.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Botulinum Toxins, Type A/chemistry
- Botulinum Toxins, Type A/genetics
- Botulinum Toxins, Type A/metabolism
- Botulinum Toxins, Type A/pharmacology
- Crystallography, X-Ray
- Female
- Glycine/metabolism
- Humans
- Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells/drug effects
- Male
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Transgenic
- Muscle, Skeletal/drug effects
- Muscle, Smooth/drug effects
- Mutation
- Neurons/drug effects
- Neurons/metabolism
- Protein Engineering
- Rabbits
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Recombinant Proteins/genetics
- Recombinant Proteins/metabolism
- Recombinant Proteins/pharmacology
- Static Electricity
- Synaptotagmin II/chemistry
- Synaptotagmin II/genetics
- Synaptotagmin II/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Elliott
- Ipsen Bioinnovation, 102 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 4RY, UK
| | | | - Sai Man Liu
- Ipsen Bioinnovation, 102 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 4RY, UK
| | - Jacquie Maignel
- Ipsen Innovation, 5 Avenue du Canada, 91940 Les Ulis, France
| | - Geoffrey Masuyer
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm SE-106 91, Sweden
| | - Matthew Beard
- Ipsen Bioinnovation, 102 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 4RY, UK
| | - Christopher Boone
- Department of Urology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Denis Carré
- Ipsen Innovation, 5 Avenue du Canada, 91940 Les Ulis, France
| | | | - Stephane Lezmi
- Ipsen Innovation, 5 Avenue du Canada, 91940 Les Ulis, France
| | - Imran Mir
- Ipsen Bioinnovation, 102 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 4RY, UK
| | | | - Shilpa Palan
- Ipsen Bioinnovation, 102 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 4RY, UK
| | - Cindy Perier
- Ipsen Innovation, 5 Avenue du Canada, 91940 Les Ulis, France
| | - Elsa Raban
- Ipsen Innovation, 5 Avenue du Canada, 91940 Les Ulis, France
| | - Sicai Zhang
- Department of Urology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Min Dong
- Department of Urology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Pål Stenmark
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm SE-106 91, Sweden
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Johannes Krupp
- Ipsen Bioinnovation, 102 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 4RY, UK
- Ipsen Innovation, 5 Avenue du Canada, 91940 Les Ulis, France
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24
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Blanshan N, Mahowald ML, Dorman C, Frizelle S, Krug HE. The analgesic effect of intraarticular OnabotulinumtoxinA in a female murine model of collagenase induced chronic degenerative monoarthritis. Toxicon 2018; 158:8-15. [PMID: 30471381 PMCID: PMC7291841 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.11.307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Revised: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Purpose We previously reported the efficacy of intraarticular (IA) rimabotulinumtoxinB (BoNT/B) in a murine model of chronic degenerative arthritis pain. This study aimed to measure the analgesic effects of onabotulinumtoxinA (BoNT/A) on collagenase induced chronic degenerative arthritis joint pain. Methods Chronic degenerative arthritis was produced by IA injection of 10 μl collagenase (Col) (10 IU) into the left knee of C57BL/6J female mice 4 weeks prior to pain assessment. IA BoNT/A was injected 3 days before testing. Arthritis pain was measured as evoked pain scores (EPS) and spontaneous pain behaviors with an advanced dynamic weight bearing (ADWB) device. EPS was a tally of fights and vocalizations exhibited in one minute with knee palpation. Percent body weight and percent time spent on each limb was quantified. All mice were 12 weeks old at the time of examination. Results IA Col increased EPS and reduced ADWB measures of percent weight bearing on the left hind limb compared to naïve mice. BoNT/A treatment reduced EPS and increased weight bearing on the left hind limb. The improvements were not significant compared to the Col group. There was no significant difference in time spent on the left hind limb between any treatment groups. Forelimb ADWB measures of percent weight and time in arthritic mice significantly increased compared to nonarthritic animals. Treatment with BoNT/A in the arthritic limb decreased this offloading; however, statistical analysis only showed significance in weightbearing. Conclusion IA Col monoarthritis increased evoked and spontaneous pain behaviors in female mice after four weeks. Treatment with IA BoNT/A decreased pain behaviors but only forelimb weight bearing showed a significant improvement. This led us to conclude that treatment with BoNT/A is not an effective analgesic for the treatment of chronic degenerative knee arthritis in murine models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Blanshan
- Rheumatology Department, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
| | - Maren L Mahowald
- Rheumatology Department, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
| | - Christopher Dorman
- Rheumatology Department, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
| | - Sandra Frizelle
- Rheumatology Department, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
| | - Hollis E Krug
- Rheumatology Department, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
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25
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Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) and tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT) are the most potent toxins known and cause botulism and tetanus, respectively. BoNTs are also widely utilized as therapeutic toxins. They contain three functional domains responsible for receptor-binding, membrane translocation, and proteolytic cleavage of host proteins required for synaptic vesicle exocytosis. These toxins also have distinct features: BoNTs exist within a progenitor toxin complex (PTC), which protects the toxin and facilitates its absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, whereas TeNT is uniquely transported retrogradely within motor neurons. Our increasing knowledge of these toxins has allowed the development of engineered toxins for medical uses. The discovery of new BoNTs and BoNT-like proteins provides additional tools to understand the evolution of the toxins and to engineer toxin-based therapeutics. This review summarizes the progress on our understanding of BoNTs and TeNT, focusing on the PTC, receptor recognition, new BoNT-like toxins, and therapeutic toxin engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Dong
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA; .,Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | - Geoffrey Masuyer
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden;
| | - Pål Stenmark
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; .,Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden
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Davies JR, Liu SM, Acharya KR. Variations in the Botulinum Neurotoxin Binding Domain and the Potential for Novel Therapeutics. Toxins (Basel) 2018; 10:toxins10100421. [PMID: 30347838 PMCID: PMC6215321 DOI: 10.3390/toxins10100421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Revised: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are categorised into immunologically distinct serotypes BoNT/A to /G). Each serotype can also be further divided into subtypes based on differences in amino acid sequence. BoNTs are ~150 kDa proteins comprised of three major functional domains: an N-terminal zinc metalloprotease light chain (LC), a translocation domain (HN), and a binding domain (HC). The HC is responsible for targeting the BoNT to the neuronal cell membrane, and each serotype has evolved to bind via different mechanisms to different target receptors. Most structural characterisations to date have focussed on the first identified subtype within each serotype (e.g., BoNT/A1). Subtype differences within BoNT serotypes can affect intoxication, displaying different botulism symptoms in vivo, and less emphasis has been placed on investigating these variants. This review outlines the receptors for each BoNT serotype and describes the basis for the highly specific targeting of neuronal cell membranes. Understanding receptor binding is of vital importance, not only for the generation of novel therapeutics but also for understanding how best to protect from intoxication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan R Davies
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
| | - Sai Man Liu
- Ipsen Bioinnovation Limited, Abingdon OX14 4RY, UK.
| | - K Ravi Acharya
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK.
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Variability of Botulinum Toxins: Challenges and Opportunities for the Future. Toxins (Basel) 2018; 10:toxins10090374. [PMID: 30217070 PMCID: PMC6162648 DOI: 10.3390/toxins10090374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most potent known toxins, and are therefore classified as extremely harmful biological weapons. However, BoNTs are therapeutic drugs that are widely used and have an increasing number of applications. BoNTs show a high diversity and are divided into multiple types and subtypes. Better understanding of the activity at the molecular and clinical levels of the natural BoNT variants as well as the development of BoNT-based chimeric molecules opens the door to novel medical applications such as silencing the sensory neurons at targeted areas and dermal restoration. This short review is focused on BoNTs’ variability and the opportunities or challenges posed for future clinical applications.
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Fonfria E, Elliott M, Beard M, Chaddock JA, Krupp J. Engineering Botulinum Toxins to Improve and Expand Targeting and SNARE Cleavage Activity. Toxins (Basel) 2018; 10:toxins10070278. [PMID: 29973505 PMCID: PMC6071219 DOI: 10.3390/toxins10070278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are highly successful protein therapeutics. Over 40 naturally occurring BoNTs have been described thus far and, of those, only 2 are commercially available for clinical use. Different members of the BoNT family present different biological properties but share a similar multi-domain structure at the molecular level. In nature, BoNTs are encoded by DNA in producing clostridial bacteria and, as such, are amenable to recombinant production through insertion of the coding DNA into other bacterial species. This, in turn, creates possibilities for protein engineering. Here, we review the production of BoNTs by the natural host and also recombinant production approaches utilised in the field. Applications of recombinant BoNT-production include the generation of BoNT-derived domain fragments, the creation of novel BoNTs with improved performance and enhanced therapeutic potential, as well as the advancement of BoNT vaccines. In this article, we discuss site directed mutagenesis, used to affect the biological properties of BoNTs, including approaches to alter their binding to neurons and to alter the specificity and kinetics of substrate cleavage. We also discuss the target secretion inhibitor (TSI) platform, in which the neuronal binding domain of BoNTs is substituted with an alternative cellular ligand to re-target the toxins to non-neuronal systems. Understanding and harnessing the potential of the biological diversity of natural BoNTs, together with the ability to engineer novel mutations and further changes to the protein structure, will provide the basis for increasing the scope of future BoNT-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Fonfria
- Ipsen Bioinnovation, 102 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 4RY, UK.
| | - Mark Elliott
- Ipsen Bioinnovation, 102 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 4RY, UK.
| | - Matthew Beard
- Ipsen Bioinnovation, 102 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 4RY, UK.
| | - John A Chaddock
- Ipsen Bioinnovation, 102 Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 4RY, UK.
| | - Johannes Krupp
- Ipsen Innovation, 5 Avenue du Canada, 91940 Les Ulis, France.
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Stern D, Weisemann J, Le Blanc A, von Berg L, Mahrhold S, Piesker J, Laue M, Luppa PB, Dorner MB, Dorner BG, Rummel A. A lipid-binding loop of botulinum neurotoxin serotypes B, DC and G is an essential feature to confer their exquisite potency. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1007048. [PMID: 29718991 PMCID: PMC5951583 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The exceptional toxicity of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) is mediated by high avidity binding to complex polysialogangliosides and intraluminal segments of synaptic vesicle proteins embedded in the presynaptic membrane. One peculiarity is an exposed hydrophobic loop in the toxin’s cell binding domain HC, which is located between the ganglioside- and protein receptor-binding sites, and that is particularly pronounced in the serotypes BoNT/B, DC, and G sharing synaptotagmin as protein receptor. Here, we provide evidence that this HC loop is a critical component of their tripartite receptor recognition complex. Binding to nanodisc-embedded receptors and toxicity were virtually abolished in BoNT mutants lacking residues at the tip of the HC loop. Surface plasmon resonance experiments revealed that only insertion of the HC loop into the lipid-bilayer compensates for the entropic penalty inflicted by the dual-receptor binding. Our results represent a new paradigm of how BoNT/B, DC, and G employ ternary interactions with a protein, ganglioside, and lipids to mediate their extraordinary neurotoxicity. Botulinum neurotoxins are Janus-faced molecules: due to their exquisite toxicity, botulinum neurotoxins are considered as biological weapons, but they are also highly effective medicines for numerous neurological indications. However, what mediates their exquisite toxicity? The exclusive binding to neurons and the subsequent paralysis cuts off the host’s communication networks. The neurospecific binding is ensured by anchoring to two receptor molecules both embedded in the membrane: a complex ganglioside and a synaptic vesicle protein. Here, we reveal a third interaction between a hydrophobic so-called HC loop protruding from the surface of the serotypes BoNT/B, DC, and G into the lipid membrane. Only this HC loop ensures their high-affinity binding to the neuronal receptors also at physiological temperature (37°C). Hereby, BoNT/B, DC, and G prevent untimely dissociation prior to uptake into the neuron. Therefore, our study provides the mechanistic basis for the development of inhibitors to combat botulism, but it also has implications for engineering toxin—membrane interactions yielding optimized BoNT-based therapeutics to treat neuromuscular dysfunctions successfully. Intriguingly, a broadly neutralizing anti-HIV-1 antibody shares a similar strategy, emphasizing the general relevance of our results for host—pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Stern
- Biological Toxins (ZBS 3), Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jasmin Weisemann
- Institut für Toxikologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Alexander Le Blanc
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, München, Germany
| | - Laura von Berg
- Biological Toxins (ZBS 3), Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Mahrhold
- Institut für Toxikologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Janett Piesker
- Advanced Light and Electron Microscopy (ZBS 4), Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Laue
- Advanced Light and Electron Microscopy (ZBS 4), Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter B. Luppa
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, München, Germany
| | - Martin Bernhard Dorner
- Biological Toxins (ZBS 3), Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Brigitte Gertrud Dorner
- Biological Toxins (ZBS 3), Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
- * E-mail: (BGD); (AR)
| | - Andreas Rummel
- Institut für Toxikologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany
- * E-mail: (BGD); (AR)
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30
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Brunt J, Carter AT, Stringer SC, Peck MW. Identification of a novel botulinum neurotoxin gene cluster in Enterococcus. FEBS Lett 2018; 592:310-317. [PMID: 29323697 PMCID: PMC5838542 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Revised: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The deadly neurotoxins of Clostridium botulinum (BoNTs) comprise eight serotypes (A-G; X). The neurotoxin gene cluster encoding BoNT and its accessory proteins includes an operon containing an ntnh gene upstream of the boNT gene. Another operon contains either ha (haemagglutinin) or orfX genes (of unknown function). Here we describe a novel boNT gene cluster from Enterococcus sp. 3G1_DIV0629, with a typical ntnh gene and an uncommon orfX arrangement. The neurotoxin (designated putative eBoNT/J) contains a metallopeptidase zinc-binding site, a translocation domain and a target cell attachment domain. Structural properties of the latter suggest a novel targeting mechanism with consequent implications for application by the pharmaceutical industry. This is the first complete boNT gene cluster identified in a non-clostridial genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Brunt
- Gut Health and Food SafetyQuadram InstituteNorwichUK
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31
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Suzuki KGN, Ando H, Komura N, Fujiwara T, Kiso M, Kusumi A. Unraveling of Lipid Raft Organization in Cell Plasma Membranes by Single-Molecule Imaging of Ganglioside Probes. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1104:41-58. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-2158-0_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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32
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Structural basis for the unique ganglioside and cell membrane recognition mechanism of botulinum neurotoxin DC. Nat Commun 2017; 8:1637. [PMID: 29158482 PMCID: PMC5696347 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01534-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), the most potent toxins known, are potential bioterrorism agents. It is well established that all seven serotypes of BoNTs (BoNT/A–G) require complex gangliosides as co-receptors. Here, we report that BoNT/DC, a presumed mosaic toxin between BoNT/D and BoNT/C1, binds and enters efficiently into neurons lacking complex gangliosides and shows no reduction in toxicity in mice deficient in complex gangliosides. The co-crystal structure of BoNT/DC with sialyl-Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen (Sialyl-T) suggests that BoNT/DC recognizes only the sialic acid, but not other moieties in gangliosides. Using liposome flotation assays, we demonstrate that an extended loop in BoNT/DC directly interacts with lipid membranes, and the co-occurring sialic acid binding and loop–membrane interactions mediate the recognition of gangliosides in membranes by BoNT/DC. These findings reveal a unique mechanism for cell membrane recognition and demonstrate that BoNT/DC can use a broad range of sialic acid-containing moieties as co-receptors. Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are thought to require complex gangliosides, a group of glycosphingolipids, as essential co-receptors to target neurons. Here, the authors show that BoNT/DC represents an exception to this rule and that an extended loop in BoNT/DC penetrates directly into neuronal membranes.
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33
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Revealing the Raft Domain Organization in the Plasma Membrane by Single-Molecule Imaging of Fluorescent Ganglioside Analogs. Methods Enzymol 2017; 598:267-282. [PMID: 29306438 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2017.06.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Gangliosides have been implicated in a variety of physiological processes, particularly in the formation and function of raft domains in the plasma membrane. However, the scarcity of suitable fluorescent ganglioside analogs had long prevented us from determining exactly how gangliosides perform their functions in the live-cell plasma membrane. With the development of new fluorescent ganglioside analogs, as described by Komura et al. (2017), this barrier has been broken. We can now address the dynamic behaviors of gangliosides in the live-cell plasma membrane, using fluorescence microscopy, particularly by single-fluorescent molecule imaging and tracking. Single-molecule tracking of fluorescent GM1 and GM3 revealed that these molecules are transiently and dynamically recruited to monomers (monomer-associated rafts) and homodimer rafts of the raftophilic GPI-anchored protein CD59 in quiescent cells, with exponential residency times of 12 and 40ms, respectively, in a manner dependent on raft-lipid interactions. Upon CD59 stimulation, which induces CD59-cluster signaling rafts, the fluorescent GM1 and GM3 analogs were recruited to the signaling rafts, with a lifetime of 48ms. These results represent the first direct evidence that GPI-anchored receptors and gangliosides interact in a cholesterol-dependent manner. Furthermore, they show that gangliosides continually move in and out of rafts that contain CD59 in an extremely dynamic manner, with much higher frequency than expected previously. Such studies would not have been possible without fluorescent ganglioside probes, which exhibit native-like behavior and single-molecule tracking. In this chapter, we review the methods for single-molecule tracking of fluorescent ganglioside analogs and the results obtained by applying these methods.
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34
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Montecucco C, Zanotti G. Botulinum neurotoxin A1 likes it double sweet. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2017; 23:619-21. [PMID: 27384187 DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.3253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Cesare Montecucco
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Zanotti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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35
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Masuyer G, Conrad J, Stenmark P. The structure of the tetanus toxin reveals pH-mediated domain dynamics. EMBO Rep 2017; 18:1306-1317. [PMID: 28645943 PMCID: PMC5538627 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201744198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2017] [Revised: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT) is a highly potent toxin produced by Clostridium tetani that inhibits neurotransmission of inhibitory interneurons, causing spastic paralysis in the tetanus disease. TeNT differs from the other clostridial neurotoxins by its unique ability to target the central nervous system by retrograde axonal transport. The crystal structure of the tetanus toxin reveals a "closed" domain arrangement stabilised by two disulphide bridges, and the molecular details of the toxin's interaction with its polysaccharide receptor. An integrative analysis combining X-ray crystallography, solution scattering and single particle electron cryo-microscopy reveals pH-mediated domain rearrangements that may give TeNT the ability to adapt to the multiple environments encountered during intoxication, and facilitate binding to distinct receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey Masuyer
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Julian Conrad
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, Solna, Sweden
| | - Pål Stenmark
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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36
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Tao L, Peng L, Berntsson RPA, Liu SM, Park S, Yu F, Boone C, Palan S, Beard M, Chabrier PE, Stenmark P, Krupp J, Dong M. Engineered botulinum neurotoxin B with improved efficacy for targeting human receptors. Nat Commun 2017; 8:53. [PMID: 28674381 PMCID: PMC5495808 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00064-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxin B is a Food and Drug Administration-approved therapeutic toxin. However, it has lower binding affinity toward the human version of its major receptor, synaptotagmin II (h-Syt II), compared to mouse Syt II, because of a residue difference. Increasing the binding affinity to h-Syt II may improve botulinum neurotoxin B’s therapeutic efficacy and reduce adverse effects. Here we utilized the bacterial adenylate cyclase two-hybrid method and carried out a saturation mutagenesis screen in the Syt II-binding pocket of botulinum neurotoxin B. The screen identifies E1191 as a key residue: replacing it with M/C/V/Q enhances botulinum neurotoxin B binding to human synaptotagmin II. Adding S1199Y/W or W1178Q as a secondary mutation further increases binding affinity. Mutant botulinum neurotoxin B containing E1191M/S1199Y exhibits ~11-fold higher efficacy in blocking neurotransmission than wild-type botulinum neurotoxin B in neurons expressing human synaptotagmin II, demonstrating that enhancing receptor binding increases the overall efficacy at functional levels. The engineered botulinum neurotoxin B provides a platform to develop therapeutic toxins with improved efficacy. Humans are less sensitive to the therapeutic effects of botulinum neurotoxin B (BoNT/B) than the animal models it is tested on due to differences between the human and the mouse receptors. Here, the authors engineer BoNT/B to improve its affinity to human receptors and enhance its therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Tao
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
| | - Lisheng Peng
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA.,Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, China
| | - Ronnie P-A Berntsson
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, SE-106 91, Sweden.,Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Umeå, SE-901 87, Sweden
| | | | - SunHyun Park
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA.,Division of Predictive Toxicological Research, Predictive model Research Center, Korea Institute of Toxicology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34114, South Korea
| | - Feifan Yu
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
| | - Christopher Boone
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
| | | | | | | | - Pål Stenmark
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, SE-106 91, Sweden.
| | - Johannes Krupp
- IPSEN Bioinnovation, Abingdon, OX14 4RY, UK. .,IPSEN Innovation, Les Ulis, 91940, France.
| | - Min Dong
- Department of Urology, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA.
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37
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Pirazzini M, Rossetto O, Eleopra R, Montecucco C. Botulinum Neurotoxins: Biology, Pharmacology, and Toxicology. Pharmacol Rev 2017; 69:200-235. [PMID: 28356439 PMCID: PMC5394922 DOI: 10.1124/pr.116.012658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 410] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) is rapidly progressing in many aspects.
Novel BoNTs are being discovered owing to next generation sequencing, but their
biologic and pharmacological properties remain largely unknown. The molecular
structure of the large protein complexes that the toxin forms with accessory
proteins, which are included in some BoNT type A1 and B1 pharmacological
preparations, have been determined. By far the largest effort has been dedicated to
the testing and validation of BoNTs as therapeutic agents in an ever increasing
number of applications, including pain therapy. BoNT type A1 has been also exploited
in a variety of cosmetic treatments, alone or in combination with other agents, and
this specific market has reached the size of the one dedicated to the treatment of
medical syndromes. The pharmacological properties and mode of action of BoNTs have
shed light on general principles of neuronal transport and protein-protein
interactions and are stimulating basic science studies. Moreover, the wide array of
BoNTs discovered and to be discovered and the production of recombinant BoNTs endowed
with specific properties suggest novel uses in therapeutics with increasing
disease/symptom specifity. These recent developments are reviewed here to provide an
updated picture of the biologic mechanism of action of BoNTs, of their increasing use
in pharmacology and in cosmetics, and of their toxicology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Pirazzini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy (M.P., O.R., C.M.); Neurologic Department, University-Hospital S. Maria della Misericordia, Udine, Italy (R.E.); and Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Italy (C.M.)
| | - Ornella Rossetto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy (M.P., O.R., C.M.); Neurologic Department, University-Hospital S. Maria della Misericordia, Udine, Italy (R.E.); and Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Italy (C.M.)
| | - Roberto Eleopra
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy (M.P., O.R., C.M.); Neurologic Department, University-Hospital S. Maria della Misericordia, Udine, Italy (R.E.); and Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Italy (C.M.)
| | - Cesare Montecucco
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy (M.P., O.R., C.M.); Neurologic Department, University-Hospital S. Maria della Misericordia, Udine, Italy (R.E.); and Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Italy (C.M.)
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38
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Burns JR, Lambert GS, Baldwin MR. Insights into the Mechanisms by Which Clostridial Neurotoxins Discriminate between Gangliosides. Biochemistry 2017; 56:2571-2583. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.6b01246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua R. Burns
- Department of Molecular Microbiology
and Immunology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65212, United States
| | - Gregory S. Lambert
- Department of Molecular Microbiology
and Immunology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65212, United States
| | - Michael R. Baldwin
- Department of Molecular Microbiology
and Immunology, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri 65212, United States
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39
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Desplantes R, Lévêque C, Muller B, Lotierzo M, Ferracci G, Popoff M, Seagar M, Mamoun R, El Far O. Affinity biosensors using recombinant native membrane proteins displayed on exosomes: application to botulinum neurotoxin B receptor. Sci Rep 2017; 7:1032. [PMID: 28432329 PMCID: PMC5430821 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-01198-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of simple molecular assays with membrane protein receptors in a native conformation still represents a challenging task. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles which, due to their stability and small size, are suited for analysis in various assay formats. Here, we describe a novel approach to sort recombinant fully native and functional membrane proteins to exosomes using a targeting peptide. Specific binding of high affinity ligands to the potassium channel Kv1.2, the G-protein coupled receptor CXCR4, and the botulinum neurotoxin type B (BoNT/B) receptor, indicated their correct assembly and outside out orientation in exosomes. We then developed, using a label-free optical biosensor, a new method to determine the kinetic constants of BoNT/B holotoxin binding to its receptor synaptotagmin2/GT1b ganglioside (kon = 2.3 ×105 M−1.s−1, koff = 1.3 10−4 s−1), yielding an affinity constant (KD = 0.6 nM) similar to values determined from native tissue. In addition, the recombinant binding domain of BoNT/B, a potential vector for neuronal delivery, bound quasi-irreversibly to synaptotagmin 2/GT1b exosomes. Engineered exosomes provide thus a novel means to study membrane proteins for biotechnology and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Desplantes
- INSERM, UMR_S 1072, 13015, Marseille, France.,Aix-Marseille Université, 13015, Marseille, France
| | - Christian Lévêque
- INSERM, UMR_S 1072, 13015, Marseille, France.,Aix-Marseille Université, 13015, Marseille, France
| | - Benjamin Muller
- Ciloa, cc90 - Université Montpellier 2, Place E. Bataillon, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Manuela Lotierzo
- Ciloa, cc90 - Université Montpellier 2, Place E. Bataillon, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Géraldine Ferracci
- Aix-Marseille Université, 13015, Marseille, France.,CNRS, UMR 7286, Plate-Forme de Recherche en Neurosciences PFRN, 13015, Marseille, France
| | - Michel Popoff
- CNR Anaérobies et botulisme, Unité Bactéries anaérobies et toxines. Institut Pasteur, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75724, Paris, Cedex 15, France
| | - Michael Seagar
- INSERM, UMR_S 1072, 13015, Marseille, France.,Aix-Marseille Université, 13015, Marseille, France
| | - Robert Mamoun
- Ciloa, cc90 - Université Montpellier 2, Place E. Bataillon, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Oussama El Far
- INSERM, UMR_S 1072, 13015, Marseille, France. .,Aix-Marseille Université, 13015, Marseille, France.
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40
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Benoit RM, Schärer MA, Wieser MM, Li X, Frey D, Kammerer RA. Crystal structure of the BoNT/A2 receptor-binding domain in complex with the luminal domain of its neuronal receptor SV2C. Sci Rep 2017; 7:43588. [PMID: 28252640 PMCID: PMC5333631 DOI: 10.1038/srep43588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
A detailed molecular understanding of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT)/host-cell-receptor interactions is fundamental both for developing strategies against botulism and for generating improved BoNT variants for medical applications. The X-ray crystal structure of the receptor-binding domain (HC) of BoNT/A1 in complex with the luminal domain (LD) of its neuronal receptor SV2C revealed only few specific side-chain - side-chain interactions that are important for binding. Notably, two BoNT/A1 residues, Arg 1156 and Arg 1294, that are crucial for the interaction with SV2, are not conserved among subtypes. Because it has been suggested that differential receptor binding of subtypes might explain their differences in biological activity, we determined the crystal structure of BoNT/A2-HC in complex with SV2C-LD. Although only few side-chain interactions are conserved between the two BoNT/A subtypes, the overall binding mode of subtypes A1 and A2 is virtually identical. In the BoNT/A2-HC - SV2C complex structure, a missing cation-π stacking is compensated for by an additional salt bridge and an anion-π stacking interaction, which explains why the binding of BoNT/A subtypes to SV2C tolerates variable side chains. These findings suggest that motif extensions and a shallow binding cleft in BoNT/A-HC contribute to binding specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger M Benoit
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Division of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Martin A Schärer
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Division of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Mara M Wieser
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Division of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Xiaodan Li
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Division of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Frey
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Division of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Richard A Kammerer
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Division of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
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41
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Connan C, Popoff MR. Uptake of Clostridial Neurotoxins into Cells and Dissemination. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2017; 406:39-78. [PMID: 28879524 DOI: 10.1007/82_2017_50] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Clostridial neurotoxins, botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) and tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT), are potent toxins, which are responsible for severe neurological diseases in man and animals. BoNTs induce a flaccid paralysis (botulism) by inhibiting acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junctions, whereas TeNT causes a spastic paralysis (tetanus) by blocking the neurotransmitter release (glycine, GABA) in inhibitory interneurons within the central nervous system. Clostridial neurotoxins recognize specific receptor(s) on the target neuronal cells and enter via a receptor-mediated endocytosis. They transit through an acidic compartment which allows the translocation of the catalytic chain into the cytosol, a prerequisite step for the intracellular activity of the neurotoxins. TeNT migrates to the central nervous system by using a motor neuron as transport cell. TeNT enters a neutral pH compartment and undergoes a retrograde axonal transport to the spinal cord or brain, where the whole undissociated toxin is delivered and interacts with target neurons. Botulism most often results from ingestion of food contaminated with BoNT. Thus, BoNT passes through the intestinal epithelial barrier mainly via a transcytotic mechanism and then diffuses or is transported to the neuromuscular junctions by the lymph or blood circulation. Indeed, clostridial neurotoxins are specific neurotoxins which transit through a transport cell to gain access to the target neuron, and use distinct trafficking pathways in both cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloé Connan
- Unité Des Bactéries Anaérobies et Toxines, Institut Pasteur, 25 Rue Du Dr Roux, 75724, Paris Cedex 15, France
| | - Michel R Popoff
- Unité Des Bactéries Anaérobies et Toxines, Institut Pasteur, 25 Rue Du Dr Roux, 75724, Paris Cedex 15, France.
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42
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Hamark C, Berntsson RPA, Masuyer G, Henriksson LM, Gustafsson R, Stenmark P, Widmalm G. Glycans Confer Specificity to the Recognition of Ganglioside Receptors by Botulinum Neurotoxin A. J Am Chem Soc 2016; 139:218-230. [PMID: 27958736 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b09534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The highly poisonous botulinum neurotoxins, produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, act on their hosts by a high-affinity association to two receptors on neuronal cell surfaces as the first step of invasion. The glycan motifs of gangliosides serve as initial coreceptors for these protein complexes, whereby a membrane protein receptor is bound. Herein we set out to characterize the carbohydrate minimal binding epitope of the botulinum neurotoxin serotype A. By means of ligand-based NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, computer simulations, and isothermal titration calorimetry, a screening of ganglioside analogues together with a detailed characterization of various carbohydrate ligand complexes with the toxin were accomplished. We show that the representation of the glycan epitope to the protein affects the details of binding. Notably, both branches of the oligosaccharide GD1a can associate to botulinum neurotoxin serotype A when expressed as individual trisaccharides. It is, however, the terminal branch of GD1a as well as this trisaccharide motif alone, corresponding to the sialyl-Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen, that represents the active ligand epitope, and these compounds bind to the neurotoxin with a high degree of predisposition but with low affinities. This finding does not correlate with the oligosaccharide moieties having a strong contribution to the total affinity, which was expected to be the case. We here propose that the glycan part of the ganglioside receptors mainly provides abundance and specificity, whereas the interaction with the membrane itself and protein receptor brings about the strong total binding of the toxin to the neuronal membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoffer Hamark
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University , S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ronnie P-A Berntsson
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University , S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Geoffrey Masuyer
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University , S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Linda M Henriksson
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University , S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Robert Gustafsson
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University , S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pål Stenmark
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University , S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Göran Widmalm
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University , S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
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43
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Botulinum Neurotoxin Serotype A Recognizes Its Protein Receptor SV2 by a Different Mechanism than Botulinum Neurotoxin B Synaptotagmin. Toxins (Basel) 2016; 8:toxins8050154. [PMID: 27196927 PMCID: PMC4885069 DOI: 10.3390/toxins8050154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2016] [Revised: 04/28/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) exhibit extraordinary potency due to their exquisite neurospecificity, which is achieved by dual binding to complex polysialo-gangliosides and synaptic vesicle proteins. The luminal domain 4 (LD4) of the three synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2 isoforms, SV2A‐C, identified as protein receptors for the most relevant serotype BoNT/A, binds within the 50 kDa cell binding domain HC of BoNT/A. Here, we deciphered the BoNT/A‐SV2 interactions in more detail. In pull down assays, the binding of HCA to SV2-LD4 isoforms decreases from SV2C >> SV2A > SV2B. A binding constant of 200 nM was determined for BoNT/A to rat SV2C-LD4 in GST pull down assay. A similar binding constant was determined by surface plasmon resonance for HCA to rat SV2C and to human SV2C, the latter being slightly lower due to the substitution L563F in LD4. At pH 5, as measured in acidic synaptic vesicles, the binding constant of HCA to hSV2C is increased more than 10-fold. Circular dichroism spectroscopy reveals that the quadrilateral helix of SV2C-LD4 already exists in solution prior to BoNT/A binding. Hence, the BoNT/A‐SV2C interaction is of different nature compared to BoNT/B‐Syt-II. In particular, the preexistence of the quadrilateral β-sheet helix of SV2 and its pH-dependent binding to BoNT/A via backbone–backbone interactions constitute major differences. Knowledge of the molecular details of BoNT/A‐SV2 interactions drives the development of high affinity peptides to counteract BoNT/A intoxications or to capture functional BoNT/A variants in innovative detection systems for botulism diagnostic.
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44
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Wild E, Bonifas U, Klimek J, Trösemeier JH, Krämer B, Kegel B, Behrensdorf-Nicol HA. In vitro potency determination of botulinum neurotoxin B based on its receptor-binding and proteolytic characteristics. Toxicol In Vitro 2016; 34:97-104. [PMID: 27032463 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2016.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most potent toxins known. However, the paralytic effect caused by BoNT serotypes A and B is taken advantage of to treat different forms of dystonia and in cosmetic procedures. Due to the increasing areas of application, the demand for BoNTs A and B is rising steadily. Because of the high toxicity, it is mandatory to precisely determine the potency of every produced BoNT batch, which is usually accomplished by performing toxicity testing (LD50 test) in mice. Here we describe an alternative in vitro assay for the potency determination of the BoNT serotype B. In this assay, the toxin is first bound to its specific receptor molecules. After the proteolytic subunit of the toxin has been released and activated by chemical reduction, it is exposed to synaptobrevin, its substrate protein. Finally the proteolytic cleavage is quantified by an antibody-mediated detection of the neoepitope, reaching a detection limit below 0.1mouseLD50/ml. Thus, the assay, named BoNT/B binding and cleavage assay (BoNT/B BINACLE), takes into account the binding as well as the protease function of the toxin, thereby measuring its biological activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emina Wild
- Veterinary Medicine Division, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicals), Langen, Germany
| | - Ursula Bonifas
- Veterinary Medicine Division, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicals), Langen, Germany
| | - Jolanta Klimek
- Veterinary Medicine Division, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicals), Langen, Germany
| | - Jan-Hendrik Trösemeier
- Microbiology Division, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicals), Langen, Germany; Molecular Bioinformatics, Institute of Computer Science, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Beate Krämer
- Veterinary Medicine Division, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicals), Langen, Germany
| | - Birgit Kegel
- Veterinary Medicine Division, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicals), Langen, Germany
| | - Heike A Behrensdorf-Nicol
- Veterinary Medicine Division, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicals), Langen, Germany.
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45
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Bacterial genotoxins: The long journey to the nucleus of mammalian cells. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2016; 1858:567-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2015.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Revised: 07/17/2015] [Accepted: 08/18/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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46
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Rummel A. Two Feet on the Membrane: Uptake of Clostridial Neurotoxins. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2016; 406:1-37. [PMID: 27921176 DOI: 10.1007/82_2016_48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
The extraordinary potency of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) and tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT) is mediated by their high neurospecificity, targeting peripheral cholinergic motoneurons leading to flaccid and spastic paralysis, respectively, and successive respiratory failure. Complex polysialo gangliosides accumulate BoNT and TeNT on the plasma membrane. The ganglioside binding in BoNT/A, B, E, F, G, and TeNT occurs via a conserved ganglioside-binding pocket within the most carboxyl-terminal 25 kDa domain HCC, whereas BoNT/C, DC, and D display here two different ganglioside binding sites. This enrichment step facilitates subsequent binding of BoNT/A, B, DC, D, E, F, and G to the intraluminal domains of the synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2 (SV2) isoforms A-C and synaptotagmin-I/-II, respectively. Whereas an induced α-helical 20-mer Syt peptide binds via side chain interactions to the tip of the HCC domain of BoNT/B, DC and G, the preexisting, quadrilateral β-sheet helix of SV2C-LD4 binds the clinically most relevant serotype BoNT/A mainly through backbone-backbone interactions at the interface of HCC and HCN. In addition, the conserved, complex N559-glycan branch of SV2C establishes extensive interactions with BoNT/A resulting in delayed dissociation providing BoNT/A more time for endocytosis into synaptic vesicles. An analogous interaction occurs between SV2A/B and BoNT/E. Altogether, the nature of BoNT-SV2 recognition clearly differs from BoNT-Syt. Subsequently, the synaptic vesicle is recycled and the bound neurotoxin is endocytosed. Acidification of the vesicle lumen triggers membrane insertion of the translocation domain, pore formation, and finally translocation of the enzymatically active light chain into the neuronal cytosol to halt release of neurotransmitters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Rummel
- Institut Für Toxikologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, 30623, Hannover, Germany.
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47
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Rummel A. The long journey of botulinum neurotoxins into the synapse. Toxicon 2015; 107:9-24. [PMID: 26363288 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2015.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2015] [Revised: 08/27/2015] [Accepted: 09/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) cause the disease botulism, a flaccid paralysis of the muscle. They are also very effective, widely used medicines applied locally in sub-nanogram quantities. BoNTs are released together with several non-toxic, associated proteins as progenitor toxin complexes (PCT) by Clostridium botulinum to become highly potent oral poisons ingested via contaminated food. They block the neurotransmission in susceptible animals and humans already in nanogram quantities due to their specific ability to enter motoneurons and to cleave only selected neuronal proteins involved in neuroexocytosis. BoNTs have developed a sophisticated strategy to passage the gastrointestinal tract and to be absorbed in the intestine of the host to finally attack neurons. A non-toxic non-hemagglutinin (NTNHA) forms a binary complex with BoNT to protect it from gastrointestinal degradation. This binary M-PTC is one component of the bi-modular 14-subunit ∼760 kDa large progenitor toxin complex. The other component is the structurally and functionally independent dodecameric hemagglutinin (HA) complex which facilitates the absorption on the intestinal epithelium by glycan binding. Subsequent to its transcytosis the HA complex disrupts the tight junction of the intestinal barrier from the basolateral side by binding to E-cadherin. Now, the L-PTC can also enter the circulation by paracellular routes in much larger quantities. From here, the dissociated BoNTs reach the neuromuscular junction and accumulate via interaction with polysialo gangliosides, complex glycolipids, on motoneurons at the neuromuscular junction. Subsequently, additional specific binding to luminal segments of synaptic vesicles proteins like SV2 and synaptotagmin leads to their uptake. Finally, the neurotoxins shut down the synaptic vesicle cycle, which they had exploited before to enter their target cells, via specific cleavage of soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins, which constitute the core components of the cellular membrane fusion machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Rummel
- Institut für Toxikologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, 30623 Hannover, Germany.
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48
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Benoit RM, Frey D, Wieser MM, Thieltges KM, Jaussi R, Capitani G, Kammerer RA. Structure of the BoNT/A1--receptor complex. Toxicon 2015; 107:25-31. [PMID: 26260692 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2015.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 08/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxin A causes botulism but is also used for medical and cosmetic applications. A detailed molecular understanding of BoNT/A--host receptor interactions is therefore fundamental for improving current clinical applications and for developing new medical strategies targeting human disorders. Towards this end, we recently solved an X-ray crystal structure of BoNT/A1 in complex with its neuronal protein receptor SV2C. Based on our findings, we discuss the potential implications for BoNT/A function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger M Benoit
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Department of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Frey
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Department of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Mara M Wieser
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Department of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Katherine M Thieltges
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Department of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Rolf Jaussi
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Department of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Guido Capitani
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Department of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Richard A Kammerer
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Department of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland.
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49
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Chang S, He HQ, Shen L, Wan H. Understanding peptide competitive inhibition of botulinum neurotoxin a binding to SV2 protein via molecular dynamics simulations. Biopolymers 2015; 103:597-608. [DOI: 10.1002/bip.22682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2015] [Revised: 05/09/2015] [Accepted: 05/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Shan Chang
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering; School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology; Changzhou China
| | - Hong-Qiu He
- Chongqing Center for Biomedicines and Medical Equipment; Chongqing Academy of Science and Technology; Chongqing China
| | - Lin Shen
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering; School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology; Changzhou China
| | - Hua Wan
- College of Informatics; South China Agricultural University; Guangzhou China
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50
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Lam KH, Yao G, Jin R. Diverse binding modes, same goal: The receptor recognition mechanism of botulinum neurotoxin. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2015; 117:225-231. [PMID: 25701633 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2015.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2014] [Revised: 01/29/2015] [Accepted: 02/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are among the most deadly toxins known. They act rapidly in a highly specific manner to block neurotransmitter release by cleaving the soluble N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex at neuromuscular junctions. The extreme toxicity of BoNTs relies predominantly on their neurotropism that is accomplished by recognition of two host receptors, a polysialo-ganglioside and in the majority of cases a synaptic vesicle protein, through their receptor-binding domains. Two proteins, synaptotagmin and synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2, have been identified as the receptors for various serotypes of BoNTs. Here, we review recent breakthroughs in the structural studies of BoNT-protein receptor recognitions that highlight a range of diverse mechanisms by which BoNTs manipulate host neuronal proteins for highly specific uptake at neuromuscular junctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwok-Ho Lam
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Guorui Yao
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Rongsheng Jin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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