A dileucine in the protease of botulinum toxin A underlies its long-lived neuroparalysis: Transfer of longevity to a novel potential therapeutic

Abstract

Blockade of neurotransmitter release by botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNTA) underlies the severe neuroparalytic symptoms of human botulism, which can last a few years. The structural basis for this remarkable persistence remains unclear. Herein, recombinant BoNTA was found to match the neurotoxicity of that from Clostridium botulinum, producing persistent cleavage of synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25) and neuromuscular paralysis. When two leucines near the C terminus of the protease light chain of A (LCA) were mutated, its inhibition of exocytosis was followed by fast recovery of intact SNAP-25 in cerebellar neurons and neuromuscular transmission in vivo. Deletion of 6-7 N terminus residues diminished BoNTA activity but did not alter the longevity of its SNAP-25 cleavage and neuromuscular paralysis. Furthermore, genetically fusing LCE to a BoNTA enzymically inactive mutant (BoTIM A) yielded a novel LCE-BoTIMA protein that targets neurons, and the BoTIMA moiety also delivers and stabilizes the inhibitory LCE, giving a potent and persistent cleavage of SNAP-25 with associated neuromuscular paralysis. Moreover, its neurotropism was extended to sensory neurons normally insensitive to BoNTE. LC E-BoTIMA(AA) with the above-identified dileucine mutated gave transient neuromuscular paralysis similar to BoNTE, reaffirming that these residues are critical for the persistent action of LC E-BoTIMA as well as BoNTA. LC E-BoTIMA inhibited release of calcitonin gene-related peptide from sensory neurons mediated by transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 and attenuated capsaicin-evoked nociceptive behavior in rats, following intraplantar injection. Thus, a long acting, versatile composite toxin has been developed with therapeutic potential for pain and conditions caused by overactive cholinergic nerves. © 2011 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.