Clostridum botulinum
Pathology
Botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A)
- The toxins block neurotransmitter release by delivering their Zn(2+)-dependent protease components to the presynaptic side of chemical synapses.
- These highly specialized enzymes exclusively hydrolyze peptide bonds within SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleiamide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) proteins.
References
Breidenbach MA, Brunger AT. New insights into clostridial neurotoxin-SNARE interactions. Trends Mol Med. 2005 Aug;11(8):377-81. PMID: 16006188