Sandbox Reserved 1414
From Proteopedia
(Difference between revisions)
(One intermediate revision not shown.) | |||
Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
==Protein Structure== | ==Protein Structure== | ||
- | A total of 205 amino acids make up the protein. The <scene name='77/777734/Alpha_helix_and_beta_sheet/1'>secondary structures</scene> prevalent include alpha helices and beta sheets (in red and blue respectively). There are seven serotypes of botulinum neurotoxin that exist, the most likely of which to affect human function being | + | A total of 205 amino acids make up the protein. The <scene name='77/777734/Alpha_helix_and_beta_sheet/1'>secondary structures</scene> prevalent include alpha helices and beta sheets (in red and blue respectively). There are seven serotypes of botulinum neurotoxin that exist, the most likely of which to affect human function being <scene name='77/777734/Serotype_a/1'>serotype A</scene> and <scene name='77/777734/Serotype_e/1'>serotype E</scene>. Serotype A persists in vivo for months after human intoxication, while serotype E only persists for a few weeks in vivo. |
==Function== | ==Function== | ||
- | Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) consists of a heavy chain and a light chain that serve different functions. The heavy chain is responsible for the endocytosis of the protein into the presynaptic compartment, while the light chain is responsible for catalytic activity. The protein primarily cleaves SNAP-25, a SNARE protein that, when cut, causes synaptic blockade of neurotransmitter release. Different serotypes of BoNT cleave SNAP-25 at different lengths and have different endocytosis | + | Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) consists of a heavy chain and a light chain that serve different functions. The heavy chain is responsible for the endocytosis of the protein into the presynaptic compartment, while the light chain is responsible for catalytic activity. The protein primarily cleaves SNAP-25, a SNARE protein that, when cut, causes synaptic blockade of neurotransmitter release. Different serotypes of BoNT cleave SNAP-25 at different lengths and have different endocytosis affinities. |
==Significance== | ==Significance== | ||
- | + | Botulinum neurotoxin is the most lethal substance known to man with the human LD50 as low as 1ng/kg. The synaptic blockade of motor neurons prevents muscle movement and can quickly lead to death by asphyxiation. The potential of botulinum neurotoxin to be aerosolized has led the US to classify BoNTs as one of the six category A bioterrorism agents, the highest threat level that can be assigned. | |
== References == | == References == | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
McNutt, P., Celver, J., Hamilton, T., & Mesngon, M. (2011). Embryonic stem cell-derived neurons are a novel, highly sensitive tissue culture platform for botulinum research. Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 405(1), 85-90. | McNutt, P., Celver, J., Hamilton, T., & Mesngon, M. (2011). Embryonic stem cell-derived neurons are a novel, highly sensitive tissue culture platform for botulinum research. Biochemical and biophysical research communications, 405(1), 85-90. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Protein structures taken from PDB (https://www.ebi.ac.uk/pdbe/entry/pdb/1zn3). |
Current revision
This Sandbox is Reserved from January through July 31, 2018 for use in the course HLSC322: Principles of Genetics and Genomics taught by Genevieve Houston-Ludlam at the University of Maryland, College Park, USA. This reservation includes Sandbox Reserved 1311 through Sandbox Reserved 1430. |
To get started:
More help: Help:Editing |
Botulinum Neurotoxin
|