Mechanism of botulinum neurotoxin B and G entry into hippocampal neurons

J Cell Biol. 2007 Dec 31;179(7):1511-22. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200707184. Epub 2007 Dec 24.

Abstract

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) target presynaptic nerve terminals by recognizing specific neuronal surface receptors. Two homologous synaptic vesicle membrane proteins, synaptotagmins (Syts) I and II, bind toxins BoNT/B and G. However, a direct demonstration that Syts I/II mediate toxin binding and entry into neurons is lacking. We report that BoNT/B and G fail to bind and enter hippocampal neurons cultured from Syt I knockout mice. Wild-type Syts I and II (but not Syt I loss-of-function toxin-binding domain mutants) restored binding and entry of BoNT/B and G in Syt I-null neurons, thus demonstrating that Syts I/II are protein receptors for BoNT/B and G. Furthermore, mice lacking complex gangliosides exhibit reduced sensitivity to BoNT/G, and binding and entry of BoNT/A, B, and G into hippocampal neurons lacking gangliosides is diminished. These data suggest that gangliosides are the shared coreceptor for BoNT/A, B, and G, supporting a double-receptor model for these three BoNTs for which the protein receptors are known.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Botulinum Toxins / metabolism*
  • Botulinum Toxins / pharmacology
  • Botulinum Toxins, Type A
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Gangliosides / metabolism
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Hippocampus / metabolism*
  • Ligands
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding / physiology
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / drug effects
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism
  • Synaptotagmin I / drug effects
  • Synaptotagmin I / genetics
  • Synaptotagmin I / metabolism*
  • Synaptotagmin II / drug effects
  • Synaptotagmin II / genetics
  • Synaptotagmin II / metabolism*

Substances

  • Gangliosides
  • Ligands
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Synaptotagmin I
  • Synaptotagmin II
  • Syt1 protein, mouse
  • Syt2 protein, mouse
  • rimabotulinumtoxinB
  • botulinum toxin type G
  • Botulinum Toxins
  • Botulinum Toxins, Type A