Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Crystal Structure of the Botulinum Neurotoxin Type G Binding Domain: Insight into Cell Surface Binding

Journal Article · · Journal of Molecular Biology

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) typically bind the neuronal cell surface via dual interactions with both protein receptors and gangliosides. We present here the 1.9-{angstrom} X-ray structure of the BoNT serotype G (BoNT/G) receptor binding domain (residues 868-1297) and a detailed view of protein receptor and ganglioside binding regions. The ganglioside binding motif (SxWY) has a conserved structure compared to the corresponding regions in BoNT serotype A and BoNT serotype B (BoNT/B), but several features of interactions with the hydrophilic face of the ganglioside are absent at the opposite side of the motif in the BoNT/G ganglioside binding cleft. This may significantly reduce the affinity between BoNT/G and gangliosides. BoNT/G and BoNT/B share the protein receptor synaptotagmin (Syt) I/II. The Syt binding site has a conserved hydrophobic plateau located centrally in the proposed protein receptor binding interface (Tyr1189, Phe1202, Ala1204, Pro1205, and Phe1212). Interestingly, only 5 of 14 residues that are important for binding between Syt-II and BoNT/B are conserved in BoNT/G, suggesting that the means by which BoNT/G and BoNT/B bind Syt diverges more than previously appreciated. Indeed, substitution of Syt-II Phe47 and Phe55 with alanine residues had little effect on the binding of BoNT/G, but strongly reduced the binding of BoNT/B. Furthermore, an extended solvent-exposed hydrophobic loop, located between the Syt binding site and the ganglioside binding cleft, may serve as a third membrane association and binding element to contribute to high-affinity binding to the neuronal membrane. While BoNT/G and BoNT/B are homologous to each other and both utilize Syt-I/Syt-II as their protein receptor, the precise means by which these two toxin serotypes bind to Syt appears surprisingly divergent.

Research Organization:
Advanced Photon Source (APS), Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
NIHNIAID
OSTI ID:
1028521
Journal Information:
Journal of Molecular Biology, Journal Name: Journal of Molecular Biology Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 397; ISSN JMOBAK; ISSN 0022-2836
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH

Similar Records

Structural Analysis of Botulinum Neurotoxin Type G Receptor Binding
Journal Article · Tue Oct 19 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Biochemistry-US · OSTI ID:1002761

Structural Analysis of the Receptor Binding Domain of Botulinum Neurotoxin Serotype D
Journal Article · Fri Dec 30 23:00:00 EST 2011 · Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications · OSTI ID:1042155

Structural analysis of the receptor binding domain of botulinum neurotoxin serotype D
Journal Article · Thu Oct 28 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 401:498-503 · OSTI ID:1000142