scholarly journals Resolving the Molecular Steps in Clostridial Neurotoxin Light Chain Translocation

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
mSphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Madison Zuverink ◽  
Matthew Bluma ◽  
Joseph T. Barbieri

ABSTRACT The clostridial neurotoxins (CNTs) comprise tetanus toxin (TT) and botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT [BT]) serotypes (A to G and X) and several recently identified CNT-like proteins, including BT/En and the mosquito BoNT-like toxin Pmp1. CNTs are produced as single proteins cleaved to a light chain (LC) and a heavy chain (HC) connected by an interchain disulfide bond. LC is a zinc metalloprotease (cleaving soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors [SNAREs]), while HC contains an N-terminal translocation domain (HCN) and a C-terminal receptor binding domain (HCC). HCN-mediated LC translocation is the least understood function of CNT action. Here, β-lactamase (βlac) was used as a reporter in discovery-based live-cell assays to characterize TT-mediated LC translocation. Directed mutagenesis identified a role for a charged loop (767DKE769) connecting α15 and α16 (cis-loop) within HCN in LC translocation; aliphatic substitution inhibited LC translocation but not other toxin functions such as cell binding, intracellular trafficking, or HCN-mediated pore formation. K768 was conserved among the CNTs. In molecular simulations of the HCN with a membrane, the cis-loop did not bind with the cell membrane. Taken together, the results of these studies implicate the cis-loop in LC translocation, independently of pore formation. IMPORTANCE How protein toxins translocate their catalytic domain across a cell membrane is the least understood step in toxin action. This study utilized a reporter, β-lactamase, that was genetically fused to full-length, nontoxic tetanus toxin (βlac-TT) in discovery-based live-cell assays to study LC translocation. Directed mutagenesis identified a role for K768 in LC translocation. K768 was located between α15 and α16 (termed the cis-loop). Cellular assays showed that K768 did not interfere with other toxin functions, including cell binding, intracellular trafficking, and pore formation. The equivalent K768 is conserved among the clostridial neurotoxin family of proteins as a conserved structural motif. The cis-loop appears to contribute to LC translocation.


2006 ◽  
Vol 175 (4S) ◽  
pp. 53-53
Author(s):  
Andy Y. Chang ◽  
Stephen A. Zderic ◽  
Douglas A. Canning ◽  
Samuel Chacko

1993 ◽  
Vol 70 (02) ◽  
pp. 273-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janos Kappelmayer ◽  
Satya P Kunapuli ◽  
Edward G Wyshock ◽  
Robert W Colman

SummaryWe demonstrate that in addition to possessing binding sites for intact factor V (FV), unstimulated peripheral blood monocytes also express activated factor V (FVa) on their surfaces. FVa was identified on the monocyte surface by monoclonal antibody B38 recognizing FVa light chain and by human oligoclonal antibodies H1 (to FVa light chain) and H2 (to FVa heavy chain) using immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. On Western blots, partially cleaved FV could be identified as a 220 kDa band in lysates of monocytes. In addition to surface expression of FVa, monocytes also contain intracellular FV as detected only after permeabilization by Triton X-100 by monoclonal antibody B10 directed specifically to the Cl domain not present in FVa. We sought to determine whether the presence of FV in peripheral blood monocytes is a result of de novo synthesis.Using in situ hybridization, no FV mRNA could be detected in monocytes, while in parallel control studies, factor V mRNA was detectable in Hep G2 cells and CD18 mRNA in monocytes. In addition, using reverse transcriptase and the polymerase chain reaction, no FV mRNA was detected in mononuclear cells or in U937 cells, but mRNA for factor V was present in Hep G2 cells using the same techniques. These data suggest that FV is present in human monocytes, presumably acquired by binding of plasma FV, and that the presence of this critical coagulation factor is not due to de novo synthesis.


1983 ◽  
Vol 49 (01) ◽  
pp. 024-027 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Vetterlein ◽  
Gary J Calton

SummaryThe preparation of a monoclonal antibody (MAB) against high molecular weight (HMW) urokinase light chain (20,000 Mr) is described. This MAB was immobilized and the resulting immunosorbent was used to isolate urokinase starting with an impure commercial preparation, fresh urine, spent tissue culture media, or E. coli broth without preliminary dialysis or concentration steps. Monospecific antibodies appear to provide a rapid single step method of purifying urokinase, in high yield, from a variety of biological fluids.


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