Clostridial neurotoxin light chains: devices for SNARE cleavage mediated blockade of neurotransmission

Seven serologically distinct botulinum neurotoxins and tetanus neurotoxin which cause the diseases botulism and tetanus constitute the clostridial neurotoxin family. Like many other bacterial protein toxins they exhibit a modular structure. One domain mediates highly specific binding to target cells and endocytosis, while the second translocates the third, a catalytic domain across the endosomal membrane to the target cell cytosol. In case of Clostridial neurotoxins (CNT), the latter acts as extremely specific Zn(2+)-dependent metalloproteinase. The various serotypes proteolyze each one particular peptide bond in one of the three SNARE proteins, which are the core of the membrane fusion apparatus for synaptic vesicles. SNARE cleavage causes the blockade of neurotransmitter release. This chapter details the molecular basis for the highly selective substrate recognition and cleavage mechanism of CNT.