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Structure and activity of botulinum neurotoxin X

Martinez-Carranza, M.; Skerlova, J.; Lee, P.-G.; Zhang, J.; Burgin, D.; Elliott, M.; Philippe, J.; Donald, S.; Hornby, F.; Henriksson, L.; Masuyer, G.; Beard, M.; Dong, M.; Stenmark, P.

2023-01-11 biochemistry
10.1101/2023.01.11.523524 bioRxiv
Show 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 [A] 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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