Abstract
Acceptors for BoNT have been detected autoradiographically on the terminal membrane of motor nerves at a density of ~ 150/μm2 and shown to mediate toxin internalization, a process deemed essential for its inhibition of transmitter release. DTX, a protein with pronounced central neurotoxicity, was shown to induce convulsive states in hippocampal slices from guinea-pig. Synaptic transmission was facilitated and spontaneous epileptiform activity produced in intact cell populations. Voltage clamp analysis of hippocampal neurones revealed that DTX specifically attenuated a transient voltage-dependent K+ conductance (A-current) and this could account for the excitatory effects observed. Proteinaceous acceptors with high affinity for DTX were identified on brain synaptosomal membranes and found to contain a 65,000 M(r) polypeptide. Their location in rat brain regions was established and contrasted with that of the binding sites for β-bungarotoxin. These findings indicate the usefulness of DTX as a probe for a protein associated with one variety of K+ channel while the larger subunit of BoNT was found to interact with a membraneous component that resides at cholinergic nerve terminals and, hence, is likely to have a unique role.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 280-303 |
Number of pages | 24 |
Journal | Journal de Physiologie |
Volume | 79 |
Issue number | 4 |
State | Published - 1984 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology