Actin Involvement in Exocytosis from PC12 Cells: Studies on the Influence of Botulinum C2 Toxin on Stimulated Noradrenaline Release

Botulinum C2 toxin is known to ADP-ribosylate actin. The toxin effect was studied on [3H]noradrenaline secretion of PC12 cells. [3H]Noradrenaline release was stimulated five- to 15-fold by carbachol (100 microM) or K+ (50 mM) and 10-30-fold by the ionophore A23187 (5 microM). Pretreatment of PC12 cells with botulinum C2 toxin for 4-8 h at 20 degrees C, increased carbachol-, K+-, and A23187-induced, but not basal, [3H]noradrenaline release maximally 1.5-to three-fold, whereas approximately 75% of the cellular actin pool was ADP-ribosylated. Treatment of PC12 cells with botulinum C2 toxin for up to 1 h at 37 degrees C also increased stimulated [3H]noradrenaline secretion, whereas toxin treatment for greater than 1 h decreased the enhanced [3H]noradrenaline release stimulated by carbachol and K+ but not by A23187. Concomitantly with toxin-induced stimulation of secretion, 20-50% of the cellular actin was ADP-ribosylated, whereas greater than 60% of actin was modified when exocytosis was attenuated. The data indicate that ADP-ribosylation of actin by botulinum C2 toxin largely modulates stimulation of [3H]noradrenaline release. Moreover, the biphasic toxin effects suggest that distinct mechanisms are involved in the role of actin in secretion.     

Two Components of Glutamate Exocytosis Differentially Affected by Presynaptic Modulation

Abstract: The total Ca²⁺-dependent release of glutamate induced by depolarization of cerebrocortical nerve terminals with KCl was analyzed into a fast and a slow component. The fast component exhibited a decay time of <1 s and accounted for 0.95 ± 0.10 nmol of glutamate, whereas the slow component, which exhibited a decay time of 52 ± 7 s, accounted for the release of 2.48 ± 0.19 nmol of glutamate. These two components were differentially affected by the Ca²⁺ chelator BAPTA, the divalent cation Sr²⁺, or the botulinum neurotoxin A. The adenosine A₁ receptor agonist N ⁶-cyclohexyladenosine strongly reduced the fast component without altering the slow component. In contrast, the inhibitory effect of arachidonic acid and the facilitatory action of the metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist (1 S ,3 R )-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid were observed as a decrease and an increase, respectively, in the two components. It is concluded, first, that the fast and slow components correspond to the release of docked and mobilized vesicles, respectively, and second, that presynaptic modulation more significantly alters the fast component of release.     

Comparison Between the Effects of Botulinum Toxin-Induced Paralysis and Denervation on Molecular Forms of Acetylcholinesterase in Muscles

Abstract: Velocity sedimentation analysis of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) molecular forms in the fast extensor digitorum longus muscle and in the slow soleus muscle of the rat was carried out on days 4, 8, and 14 after induction of muscle paralysis by botulinum toxin type A (BoTx). The results were compared with those observed after muscle denervation. In addition, the ability of BoTx-paralyzed muscles to resynthesize AChE was studied after irreversible inhibition of the preexistent enzyme by diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate. Major differences were observed between the effects of BoTx treatment and nerve section on AChE in the junctional region of the muscles. A precipitous drop in content of the asymmetric A12 AChE form was observed after denervation, whereas its decrease was much slower and less extensive in the BoTx-paralyzed muscles. Recovery of junctional AChE and of its A12 form after irreversible inhibition of the preexistent AChE in BoTx-paralyzed muscles was nevertheless very slow. It seems that a greater part of the junctional A12 AChE form pertains to a fraction with a very slow turnover that is rapidly degraded after denervation but not after BoTx-produced muscle paralysis. The postdenervation decrease in content of junctional A12 AChE is therefore not primarily due to muscle inactivity. The extrajunctional molecular forms of AChE seem to be regulated mostly by muscle activity because they undergo virtually identical changes both after denervation and BoTx paralysis. The differences observed in this respect between the fast and slow muscles after their inactivation must be intrinsic to muscles.     

Botulinum Neurotoxin Light Chain Inhibits Norepinephrine Secretion in PC12 Cells at an Intracellular Membranous or Cytoskeletal Site

Botulinum neurotoxin (NT) is a potent inhibitor of neurotransmitter secretion, but its intracellular mechanism and site of action are unknown. In this study, the intracellular action of NT was investigated by rendering the secretory apparatus of PC12 cells accessible to macromolecules by a recently described "cell cracking" procedure. Soluble cytoplasmic factors were depleted from permeabilized cells by washing to generate cell "ghosts" which retained cellular structural components and intracellular organelles (including secretory granules). The PC12 cell ghosts exhibited Ca(2+)-activated [3H]norepinephrine release which was enhanced by cytosolic proteins and MgATP. PC12 cell ghosts provide the opportunity to distinguish the intracellular action of NT on soluble cytoplasmic components versus structural cellular components. The 150-kDa NT and the 50-kDa light chain of serotypes E and B, and to a lesser extent type A, inhibited Ca(2+)-activated [3H]norepinephrine release in PC12 ghosts, but not in intact PC12 cells. The 100-kDa heavy chain had no effect. This indicates that NT acts at an intracellular site in these cells permeabilized by "cell cracking." The inhibition of secretion by NT was rapid and irreversible under the incubation conditions used. NT inhibition of [3H]-norepinephrine release from PC12 ghosts occurred in the absence of cytosolic proteins and MgATP and was not reversed by the addition of cytosolic proteins and MgATP, indicating that NT acts at an intracellular membranous or cytoskeletal site.     

Botulinum neurotoxin E-insensitive mutants of SNAP-25 fail to bind VAMP but support exocytosis

Neurotransmitter release from synaptic vesicles is mediated by complex machinery, which includes the v- and t-SNAP receptors (SNAREs), vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP), synaptotagmin, syntaxin, and synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25). They are essential for neurotransmitter exocytosis because they are the proteolytic substrates of the clostridial neurotoxins tetanus neurotoxin and botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), which cause tetanus and botulism, respectively. Specifically, SNAP-25 is cleaved by both BoNT/A and E at separate sites within the COOH-terminus. We now demonstrate, using toxin-insensitive mutants of SNAP-25, that these two toxins differ in their specificity for the cleavage site. Following modification within the COOH-terminus, the mutants completely resistant to BoNT/E do not bind VAMP but were still able to form a sodium dodecyl sulfate-resistant complex with VAMP and syntaxin. Furthermore, these mutants retain function in vivo, conferring BoNT/E-resistant exocytosis to transfected PC12 cells. These data provide information on structural requirements within the C-terminal domain of SNAP-25 for its function in exocytosis and raise doubts about the significance of in vitro binary interactions for the in vivo functions of synaptic protein complexes.     

A型肉毒聚合类毒素的制备及免疫原性研究

通过制备A型肉毒聚合类毒素,研究获得较好的免疫原性和反应原性的方法.通过碳二亚胺法,聚合A型肉毒类毒素,免疫小鼠,用ELISA检测抗体,成功地制备了A型肉毒聚合类毒素,免疫小鼠获得高效价免疫血清,且该免疫血清具有中和活性,研究A型肉毒聚合类毒素抗原的作用机制,获得具有中和活性的保护性抗体,对肉毒毒素中毒的防治具有重要意...     

马免疫血浆的稳定性研究

目的了解不同温度条件对马免疫血浆外观和效价的稳定性影响,为马免疫血浆的采集、分离、贮存、运输及抗毒素生产提供数据支持。方法将破伤风类毒素及肉毒A、B、E、F型类毒素制备的马免疫血浆,分别放置于2~8℃、20℃、37℃3种温度下,并分别于0、1、3、6、12个月取样,依据《中国药典》三部(2010版)的检测方法和标准,对样品进行外观检查及效价检测。结果破伤风及肉毒A、B、E、F型马免疫血浆在2~8℃条件下,放置12个月稳定性良好,外观及效价均符合《中国药典》三部(2010版)规定要求。20℃与37℃下放置的马免疫血浆随着时间的延长,外观会发生不同程度的浑浊,效价也均有不同程度的降低,低效价组比中、高效价组的效价下降明显,且温度越高效价降低幅度越大。结论马免疫血浆在2~8℃条件下质量稳定。     

C型肉毒梭菌毒素杀灭高原鼠兔的研究

本文报道用C型肉毒梭菌毒素杀灭高原鼠兔的试验,冬季灭鼠效果达98%。作为一种新的杀鼠剂,具有毒性强、用量少、成本低、残效期短、无二次中毒、不污染环境、对人畜安全、使用方便等优点。是我国首次用生物毒素灭鼠成功的试验,打开了生物灭鼠的新途径。     

A型肉毒素膀胱内阻滞治疗女性膀胱过度活动症的临床效果观察

目的：探讨A型肉毒素膀胱内阻滞治疗女性膀胱过度活动症的临床效果。方法：选择2010年10月至2012年10月,哈尔滨医科大学附属第四医院泌尿外科收治的女性膀胱过度活动症患者24例,随机分为治疗组和对照组,治疗组（A组）选用国产A型肉毒素（衡力）100IU治疗,用10mL生理盐水稀释后,通过膀胱镜进行壁内注射;对照组（B组）患者给予口服经典的抗胆碱制剂,酒石酸托特罗定片,每天口服2次,每次2mg,疗程不少于6周。于治疗前,治疗后1周和4周观察和比较两组患者的1PSS评分、初尿意膀胱容量、最大膀胱容量。结果：与治疗前比较,A组治疗后1周,IPSS评分显著下降（P〈0．05）,初尿意膀胱容量及最大膀胱容量显著上升（P〈0．05）,治疗后第2周和第4周均维持在相当水平,残余尿量第1周未见明显下降（P〉0．05）,第4周时与基线比较下降明显（P〈0．05）;B组于治疗后第4周时,以上三项指标与治疗前比较才有统计学差异（P〈0．05）,残余尿量在第1周即有明显下降（P〈0．05）,并且第4周时仍维持第1周水平（P〉0．05）。此外,治疗后第1周两组比较以上指标比较有统计学差异（P〈0．05）,而治疗后第4周无明显差异（P〉0．05）。结论：经尿道膀胱壁内肉毒素A注射和口服酒石酸托特罗定均是治疗女性膀胱过度活动症的有效方法,但A型肉毒素膀胱内注射起效更快,同时由于其接触性和直观性,疗效更确切。     

Structural insights into the functional role of the Hcn sub-domain of the receptor-binding domain of the botulinum neurotoxin mosaic serotype C/D

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT), the causative agent of the deadly neuroparalytic disease botulism, is the most poisonous protein known for humans. Produced by different strains of the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium botulinum, BoNT effects cellular intoxication via a multistep mechanism executed by the three modules of the activated protein. Endocytosis, the first step of cellular intoxication, is triggered by the ∼50 kDa, heavy-chain receptor-binding domain (HCR) that is specific for a ganglioside and a protein receptor on neuronal cell surfaces. This dual receptor recognition mechanism between BoNT and the host cell's membrane is well documented and occurs via specific intermolecular interactions with the C-terminal sub-domain, Hcc, of BoNT–HCR. The N-terminal sub-domain of BoNT–HCR, Hcn, comprises ∼50% of BoNT–HCR and adopts a β-sheet jelly roll fold. While suspected in assisting cell surface recognition, no unambiguous function for the Hcn sub-domain in BoNT has been identified. To obtain insights into the potential function of the Hcn sub-domain in BoNT, the first crystal structure of a BoNT with an organic ligand bound to the Hcn sub-domain has been obtained. Here, we describe the crystal structure of BoNT/CD–HCR determined at 1.70 Å resolution with a tetraethylene glycol (PG4) moiety bound in a hydrophobic cleft between β-strands in the β-sheet jelly roll fold of the Hcn sub-domain. The PG4 moiety is completely engulfed in the cleft, making numerous hydrophilic (Y932, S959, W966, and D1042) and hydrophobic (S935, W977, L979, N1013, and I1066) contacts with the protein's side chain and backbone that may mimic in vivo interactions with the phospholipid membranes on neuronal cell surfaces. A sulfate ion was also observed bound to residues T1176, D1177, K1196, and R1243 in the Hcc sub-domain of BoNT/CD–HCR. In the crystal structure of a similar protein, BoNT/D–HCR, a sialic acid molecule was observed bound to the equivalent residues suggesting that residues T1176, D1177, K1196, and R1243 in BoNT/CD may play a role in ganglioside binding.