Identification of rho as a substrate for botulinum toxin C3-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation

Recombinant Aplysia rho and a GTP-binding protein purified from human neutrophil membranes (G22K) were ADP-ribosylated by botulinum toxin C3 with stoichiometries of 0.8 and 0.6, respectively. Rho and G22K appeared to be different proteins since (i) rho migrated faster on polyacrylamide gels, (ii) unlike G22K, rho did not require the presence of cytosol to be ADP-ribosylated, (iii) G22K was not recognized by an anti-rho antiserum, and (iv) antibody 142-24E05 recognized G22K effectively but only poorly cross reacted with rho. ADP-ribosylation had no effect on the ability of rho to bind or hydrolyse GTP. Therefore, it appears that there are multiple botulinum toxin C3 substrates and that the toxin exerts its effects on cell function by a mechanism other than modulating the GTPase activity of rho.     

ADP-ribosylation of a Mr 21,000 membrane protein by type D botulinum toxin

When crude membrane fraction from bovine adrenal gland was incubated with type D botulinum toxin in the presence of NAD, a membrane protein with a molecular weight of 21,000 was specifically ADP-ribosylated. This ADP-ribosylation occurred dependent on the dose of the toxin and was abolished by prior boiling ADP-ribose transfer to the membrane protein was significantly suppressed when agmatine and L-arginine methyl ester were included in the reaction mixture. Dithiothreitol stimulated this ADP-ribosylation about 3-fold. Incubation of membrane fractions from mouse brain and pancreas with this toxin also resulted in ADP-ribosylation of a protein of the same molecular weight. These results suggested that type D botulinum toxin catalyzed transfer of an ADP-ribose moiety of NAD to the specific membrane protein common to secretory cells.     

ADP-ribosylation of platelet actin by botulinum C2 toxin

Botulinum C2 toxin is a microbial toxin which possesses ADP-ribosyltransferase activity. In human platelet cytosol a 43-kDa protein was ADP-ribosylated by botulinum C2 toxin. Labelling of the 43-kDa protein using [32P]NAD as substrate was reduced by unlabelled NAD and nicotinamide. The label was removed by treatment with snake venom phosphodiesterase. Half-maximal and maximal ADP-ribosylation occurred at 0.1 microgram/ml and 3 micrograms/ml botulinum C2 toxin, respectively. The Km value of the ADP-ribosylation reaction for NAD was about 1 microM. The peptide map of the ADP-ribosylated 43-kDa protein was almost identical with platelet actin. The ADP-ribosylated 43-kDa substrate protein bound to and was eluted from immobilized DNase I in a manner similar to G-actin. Trypsin treatment of platelet cytosol decreased subsequent ADP-ribosylation of the 43-kDa protein without occurrence of smaller labelled polypeptides. Purified platelet actin was also ADP-ribosylated by botulinum C2 toxin with similar characteristics found with actin in platelet cytosol. Phalloidin decreased the ADP-ribosylation of actin in platelet cytosol and of isolated platelet actin. Half-maximal and maximal, about 90%, reduction of actin ADP-ribosylation was observed at 0.4 microM and 10 microM phalloidin, respectively. ADP-ribosylation of purified actin, induced by botulinum C2I toxin, abolished the formation of the typical microfilament network. The data indicate that platelet G-actin but not F-actin is a substrate of botulinum C2 toxin and that this covalent modification largely affects the functional properties of actin.     

Copurification of rho protein and the rho-GDP dissociation inhibitor from bovine neutrophil cytosol. Effect of phosphoinositides on rho ADP-ribosylation by the C3 exoenzyme of Clostridium botulinum.

The substrate of the C3 exoenzyme from botulinum toxin is a protein which is particularly abundant in the cytosol of neutrophils [Stasia, M. J., Jouan, A., Bourmeyster, N., Boquet, P., & Vignais, P. V. (1991) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 180, 615-622]. Optimal conditions for the ADP-ribosylation of the C3 substrate have been established in order to follow the course of its purification from bovine neutrophil cytosol. In particular, phosphoinositides at micromolar concentrations were found to enhance the ADP-ribosylation capacity of the C3 substrate in crude neutrophil cytosol and partially purified fractions. A [32P]ADP-ribosylatable protein, migrating on SDS-PAGE with a mass of 24 kDa, was copurified with a 29-kDa protein by a series of chromatographic steps on DEAE-Sephacel, Biogel P60, and Mono Q. In the case of the C3 substrate, isoelectric focusing revealed two major labeled bands with pI values of 6.2 and 5.6; the pI of the 29-kDa protein was 4.8-5.0. On the basis of the amino acid sequence of peptides resolved after proteolytic digestion, the 24-kDa protein and the 29-kDa protein were identified respectively as rho and the GDP dissociation inhibitor (GDI), suggesting that rho and GDI copurify from bovine neutrophil cytosol in the form of a complex. The presence of a number of amino acid residues specific of rho A in the enzymatic digest originating from rho indicates that, among the rho proteins, at least rho A belongs to the GDI-rho complex.     

ADP-ribosylation of actin isoforms by Clostridium botulinum C2 toxin and Clostridium perfringens iota toxin

The substrate specificities of the actin-ADP-ribosylating toxins, Clostridium botulinum C2 toxin and Clostridium perfringens iota toxin were studied by using five different preparations of actin isoforms: alpha-skeletal muscle actin, alpha-cardiac muscle actin, gizzard gamma-smooth muscle actin, spleen beta- and gamma-cytoplasmic actin, and aortic smooth muscle actin containing alpha- and gamma-smooth muscle actin isoforms. C. perfringens iota toxin ADP-ribosylated all actin isoforms tested, whereas C. botulinum C2 toxin did not modify alpha-skeletal muscle actin or alpha-cardiac muscle actin. Spleen beta/gamma-cytoplasmic actin and gizzard gamma-smooth muscle actin were substrates of C. botulinum C2 toxin. In the aortic smooth muscle actin preparation, gamma-smooth muscle actin but not alpha-smooth muscle actin was ADP-ribosylated by C. botulinum C2 toxin. The data indicate that, in contrast to C. perfringens iota toxin, C. botulinum C2 toxin ADP-ribosylates only beta/gamma-cytoplasmic and gamma-smooth muscle actin and suggest that the N-terminal region of actin isoforms define the substrate specificity for ADP-ribosylation by C. botulinum C2 toxin.     

Clostridium botulinum type C toxin

Summary The purification and crystallization of type C botulinum toxin along with its physical characteristics are described. The shape of Clostridium botulinum type C toxin molecule is globular like a pressed ball with a 7.4 nm diameter and a 4.3 urn thickness. The molecular volume is approximately 185 nl and the molecular weight is 141 000. The toxin molecule is composed of two parts, which are separable under appropriate conditions. These parts have some differences in the electrophoretic properties, amino acid distribution, immunological, and functional characteristics. The toxin molecule can be reconstituted by association of S-S bond between the two chains. The expression of the toxicity requires that the fragments of the polypeptide chain carrying the necessary information be functionally organized for the proper development of the specific tertiary structure for active conformation.     

ADP-ribosylation and de-ADP-ribosylation of the rho protein by Clostridium botulinum exoenzyme C3. Regulation by EDTA, guanine nucleotides and pH

Pretreatment of rho protein purified from pig brain cytosol with EDTA (3 mM) for 10 min at 30 degrees C inhibited its ADP-ribosylation by Clostridium botulinum C3 ADP-ribosyltransferase by more than 90%. The EDTA effect was not caused by alteration of C3. GDP or GDP beta S present during the pretreatment period completely prevented the decrease in ADP-ribosylation with half-maximal and maximal effects at 3 and 300 microM, respectively. GTP or GTP gamma S were less efficacious in preventing the decrease in ADP-ribosylation, but were more potent (half-maximal and maximal effects at 0.1 and 3 microM, respectively). [32P]ADP-ribose incorporated in pig brain rho by C3 was de-ADP-ribosylated by the enzyme in the presence of nicotinamide and at low pH. Concomitantly, [32P]NAD was formed. The pH optima for ADP-ribosylation and de-ADP-ribosylation were pH 7.5 and 5.5, respectively. De-ADP-ribosylation was most efficient with nicotinamide, less effective with 3-acetylpyridine and not observed with 3-aminopyridine, 4-aminopyridine, 4-acetylpyridine and isonicotinic acid. As observed for the ADP-ribosylation, the de-ADP-ribosylation by C3 was maximal with the GDP-bound form of rho and blocked after EDTA treatment.     

Characterization of the ADP-ribosylation of actin by Clostridium botulinum C2 toxin and Clostridium perfringens iota toxin

Clostridium botulinum C2 toxin and Clostridium perfringens iota toxin belong to a novel family of actin ADP-ribosylating toxins. ADP-ribosylation of actin inhibits actin polymerization and G-actin-associated ATPase activity. The ADP-form of actin is ADP-ribosylated at a higher rate than actin with bound ATP. ADP-ribosylation of actin is reversible, a reaction, which is accompanied by reconstitution of actin ATPase activity.     

ADP-ribosylation of bovine S-antigen by cholera toxin

The S-antigen (alias 48K protein or arrestin) of bovine rod photoreceptors contains two stretches of amino acid sequence homologous to the ADP-ribosylation sites of the alpha subunit of transducin (Ta). We have found that cholera toxin transfers the ADP-ribosyl group from NAD to purified bovine S-antigen as well as to S-antigen in rod outer segment membranes, while Bordetella pertussis toxin is unable to catalyze the transfer reaction efficiently. Under the same conditions, both toxins catalyzed ADP-ribosylation of Ta in rod outer segments. The ADP-ribosylation of S-antigen by cholera toxin indicates that S-antigen not only exhibits sequence homology with the ADP-ribosylation sites of Ta, but it must also resemble Ta in the tertiary structure of the domain which determines the susceptibility of S-antigen to the catalytic action of cholera toxin. These results suggest that S-antigen may function as a competitor of Ta in some stage of the cGMP cascade of visual transduction.     

Sporulation and C2 toxin production by Clostridium botulinum type C strains producing no C1 toxin.

All of the 8 strains that were previously assumed to be nontoxigenic Clostridium botulinum type C were re-examined for their toxigenicity and were demonstrated by trypsinization of the culture filtrates to produce C2 toxin under improved cultural conditions. One per cent glucose added to trypticase peptone medium enhanced C2 toxin production. The larger the spore population, the higher the C2 toxicity and when spore population was smaller than a level of 10(4)/ml, no C2 toxicity was demonstrated. The C2 toxin was produced only during sporulation and not during vegetative growth.     

ADP-ribosylation of actin from the green algaChara corallina byClostridium botulinum C2 toxin andClostridium perfringens iota toxin

Summary The ability of two bacterial toxins to modify a plant actin by covalent ADP-ribosylation was tested in the green algaChara corallina. Using [³²P]NAD, bothClostridium botulinum C2 toxin andClostridium perfringens iota toxin labelled a protein of M_r 42 kDa which comigrated with actin and was immunoprecipitated by a monoclonal anti-actin antibody. ADP-ribosylation ofChara actin was more efficient with iota toxin than with C2 toxin. The actin bundles in perfusedChara cells were not affected by toxin-containing media competent for ADP-ribosylation. The data indicate that monomeric plant actin is substrate for ADP-ribosylation by the bacterial toxins.Abbreviations ADP adenosine-diphosphate - EGTA ethyleneglycol-bis-(-aminoethyl)N,N,N,N-tetraacetic acid - NAD nicotinamide dinucleotide - pCA -log [Ca²⁺] - PIPES piperazine-N,N-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid) Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Eberhard Schnepf on the occasion of his retirement     

Immunochemical study of the toxin of C1. botulinum type E]

Toxins extracted from the cells and the culture fluid of C1. butulinum type E had a similar mol wt and antigenic composition. Trypsin activation led to the appearance of an additional antigen. Coefficient of the cell toxin activation was much greater than the coefficient of activation of the toxin contained in the culture fluid.     

Identification of a botulinum C3-like enzyme in bovine brain that catalyzes ADP-ribosylation of GTP-binding proteins.

A novel enzyme activity was found in bovine brain cytosol that transfers the ADP-ribosyl moiety of NAD to proteins with Mr values of 22,000 and 25,000. The substrates were the same GTP-binding proteins serving as the substrate of an ADP-ribosyltransferase C3 which was produced by a type C strain of Clostridium botulinum. The brain enzyme was partially purified from the cytosol and had a molecular mass of approximately 20,000 on a gel filtration column. The brain endogenous enzyme displayed unique properties similar to those observed with botulinum C3 enzyme. The enzyme activity was markedly stimulated by a protein factor that had been initially found in the cytosol as an activator for botulinum C3-catalyzed ADP-ribosylation (Ohtsuka, T., Nagata, K., Iiri, T., Nozawa, Y., Ueno, K., Ui, M., and Katada, T. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 15000-15005). The activity of the brain enzyme was also affected by certain types of detergents or phospholipids. The substrate of the brain enzyme was specific for GTP-binding proteins serving as the substrate of botulinum C3 enzyme; the alpha-subunits of trimeric GTP-binding proteins which served as the substrate of cholera or pertussis toxin were not ADP-ribosylated by the endogenous enzyme. Thus, this is the first report showing an endogenous enzyme in mammalian cells that catalyzes ADP-ribosylation of small molecular weight GTP-binding proteins.     

Different types of ADP-ribose protein bonds formed by botulinum C2 toxin, botulinum ADP-ribosyltransferase C3 and pertussis toxin

We attempted to characterize ADP-ribose-amino acid bonds formed by various bacterial toxins. The ADP-ribose-arginine bond formed by botulinum C2 toxin in actin was cleaved with a half-life of about 2 h by treatment with hydroxylamine (0.5 M). In contrast, the ADP-ribose-cysteine bond formed by pertussis toxin in transducin and the ADP-ribose-amino acid linkage formed by botulinum ADP-ribosyltransferase C3 in platelet cytosolic proteins were not affected by hydroxylamine. HgCl2 cleaved the ADP-ribose-amino acid bond formed by pertussis toxin in transducin but not those formed by botulinum C2 toxin or botulinum ADP-ribosyltransferase C3 in actin and platelet cytosolic proteins, respectively. NaOH (0.5 M) cleaved the ADP-ribose-amino acid bonds formed by botulinum C2 toxin and pertussis toxin but not the one formed by botulinum ADP-ribosyltransferase C3. The data indicate that the ADP-ribose bond formed by botulinum ADP-ribosyltransferase C3 differs from those formed by the known bacterial ADP-ribosylating toxins.     

ADP-ribosylation by type C1 and D botulinum neurotoxins: stimulation by guanine nucleotides and inhibition by guanidino-containing compounds

We recently reported that type D botulinum neurotoxin ADP-ribosylates a specific protein of Mr 21,000 in membrane fractions of various tissues (Ohashi, Y. and Narumiya, S. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. in press). We examined similar enzyme activities in other types (types A, B, C1 and E) of botulinum neurotoxins. Of these, only type C1 toxin showed the activity similar to type D toxin and ADP-ribosylated the same Mr 21,000 protein in membranes of mouse brain. No enzyme activities were detected in type A, B and E toxins under the present experimental conditions. GTP stimulated ADP-ribosylation by the two toxins in a concentration dependent manner from 10 nM to 100 microM. The maximum stimulation was about 6 fold. GDP was 10 times less potent than GTP and achieved similar maximum at 1 mM, while GMP, ADP and ATP had little effect. Several guanidino-containing compounds dose-dependently inhibited the activities of both toxins. The IC50 values were 8.5, 14.5 and 45 mM for agmatine, L-arginine methyl ester and guanidine, respectively.     

An endogenous inhibitor of the ADP-ribosylation of GTP-binding proteins by pertussis toxin is present in bovine brain

The ADP-ribosylation of GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins) catalyzed by pertussis toxin was inhibited by endogenous inhibitor activity in the membrane extract of bovine brain. Most of the activity appeared in the fractions eluted from a DEAE-Sephacel column by 0.5 M NaCl. The activity was heat-stable and sensitive to pronase K. The results suggest the presence of an endogenous inhibitor of pertussis toxin in bovine brain.     

Sugar-binding sites of the HA1 subcomponent of Clostridium botulinum type C progenitor toxin

Clostridium botulinum type C 16S progenitor toxin contains a hemagglutinin (HA) subcomponent, designated HA1, which appears to play an important role in the effective internalization of the toxin in gastrointestinal epithelial cells and in creating a broad specificity for the oligosaccharide structure that corresponds to various targets. In this study, using the recombinant protein fused to glutathione S-transferase, we investigated the binding specificity of the HA1 subcomponent to sugars and estimated the binding sites of HA1 based on X-ray crystallography and soaking experiments using various sugars. N-Acetylneuraminic acid, N-acetylgalactosamine, and galactose effectively inhibited the binding that occurs between glutathione S-transferase-HA1 and mucins, whereas N-acetylglucosamine and glucose did not inhibit it. The crystal structures of HA1 complex with N-acetylneuraminic acid, N-acetylgalactosamine, and galactose were also determined. There are two sugar-binding sites, sites I and II. Site I corresponds to the electron densities noted for all sugars and is located at the C-terminal β-trefoil domain, while site II corresponds to the electron densities noted only for galactose. An aromatic amino acid residue, Trp176, at site I has a stacking interaction with the hexose ring of the sugars. On the other hand, there is no aromatic residue at site II; thus, the interaction with galactose seems to be poor. The double mutant W176A at site I and D271F at site II has no avidity for N-acetylneuraminic acid but has avidity for galactose. In this report, the binding specificity of botulinum C16S toxin HA1 to various sugars is demonstrated based on its structural features.     

Clostridium botulinum type C produces a novel ADP-ribosyltransferase distinct from botulinum C2 toxin

The culture medium of certain strains of Clostridium botulinum type C contains two separable ADP-ribosyltransferases. Besides the ADP-ribosylation of actin due to botulinum C2 I toxin, a second microbial enzyme causes the mono-ADP-ribosylation of a eukaryotic protein with a molecular mass of about 20 kDa found in platelets, neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cells, S49 lymphoma cells, chick embryo fibroblasts and sperm. The eukaryotic substrate is inactivated by heating and trypsin treatment. In contrast, the novel ADP-ribosyltransferase, which can be separated by DEAE-Sephadex chromatography, is largely resistant in the short term to trypsin digestion.