Lance E. Steward

Novel chimeras of botulinum neurotoxins A and E unveil contributions from the binding, translocation, and protease domains to their functional characteristics

Hyperexcitability disorders of cholinergically innervated muscles are treatable with botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) A. The seven serotypes (A–G) potently block neurotransmission by binding to presynaptic receptors, undergoing endocytosis, transferring to the cytosol, and inactivating proteins essential for vesicle fusion. Although BoNT/A and BoNT/E cleave SNAP-25, albeit at distinct sites, BoNT/E blocks neurotransmission faster and more potently. To identify the domains responsible for these characteristics, the C-terminal heavy chain portions of BoNT/A and BoNT/E were exchanged to create chimeras AE and EA. After high yield expression in Escherichia coli, these single chain chimeras were purified by two-step chromatography and activated by conversion to disulfide-linked dichains. In vitro, each entered neurons, cleaved SNAP-25, and blocked neuromuscular transmission while causing flaccid paralysis in vivo. Acidification-dependent translocation of the light chain to the cytosol occurred more rapidly for BoNT/E and EA than for BoNT/A and AE because the latter pair remained susceptible for longer to inhibitors of the vesicular proton pump, and BoNT/A proved less sensitive. The receptor-binding and protease domains do not seem to be responsible for the speeds of intoxication; rather the N-terminal halves of their heavy chains are implicated, with dissimilar rates of cytosolic transfer of the light chains being due to differences in pH sensitivity. AE produced the most persistent muscle weakening and therefore has therapeutic potential. Thus, proof of principle is provided for tailoring the pharmacological properties of these toxins by protein engineering.

Identification of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 3 (FGFR3) as a Protein Receptor for Botulinum Neurotoxin Serotype A (BoNT/A)

Botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A) causes transient muscle paralysis by entering motor nerve terminals (MNTs) where it cleaves the SNARE protein Synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP25206) to yield SNAP25197. Cleavage of SNAP25 results in blockage of synaptic vesicle fusion and inhibition of the release of acetylcholine. The specific uptake of BoNT/A into pre-synaptic nerve terminals is a tightly controlled multistep process, involving a combination of high and low affinity receptors. Interestingly, the C-terminal binding domain region of BoNT/A, HC/A, is homologous to fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), making it a possible ligand for Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors (FGFRs). Here we present data supporting the identification of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 3 (FGFR3) as a high affinity receptor for BoNT/A in neuronal cells. HC/A binds with high affinity to the two extra-cellular loops of FGFR3 and acts similar to an agonist ligand for FGFR3, resulting in phosphorylation of the receptor. Native ligands for FGFR3; FGF1, FGF2, and FGF9 compete for binding to FGFR3 and block BoNT/A cellular uptake. These findings show that FGFR3 plays a pivotal role in the specific uptake of BoNT/A across the cell membrane being part of a larger receptor complex involving ganglioside- and protein-protein interactions.

Is the light chain subcellular localization an important factor in botulinum toxin duration of action

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) are therapeutic proteins that are specific, potent, and effective. They are highly specific in binding to motor neurons but do not bind to other non‐neuronal cells. These proteins are zinc‐dependent endopeptidases that inhibit exocytosis by specific cleavage of the SNARE (soluble N‐ethylmaleimide‐sensitive factor‐attachment protein‐receptor) proteins involved in vesicle docking and fusion. The therapeutic effect of BoNT/A in humans lasts from 3 to 12 months, depending upon the condition treated. Data from animal and cell culture models suggests that the long‐lasting duration of inhibition of neurotransmitter release induced by BoNT/A maybe due to the persistence of the endopeptidase activity of the light chain (LC/A) in cells, interactions of the cleaved substrates, and/or the response of the nerve to the temporary disruption of communication with its target tissue. We have analyzed the subcellular localization of the light chains from serotypes A, B, and E and have demonstrated that each light chain displays a distinct distribution within cells. LC/A localizes at the plasma membrane, LC/B is dispersed throughout the cell including the nucleus, and LC/E is mainly cytosolic. Localization is similar in non‐neuronal cell lines, suggesting that the signals involved in proper subcellular localization are within the LC sequences and the moiety the light chain interacts with is present in both neuronal and non‐neuronal cells.

Molecular recognition of botulinum neurotoxin B heavy chain by human antibodies from cervical dystonia patients that develop immunoresistance to toxin treatment.

We determined the entire profile of the continuous antigenic regions recognized by blocking antibodies (Abs) in sera from 30BoNT/B-treated cervical dystonia (CD) patients who developed unresponsiveness to treatment. The sera protected mice against a lethal dose of BoNT/B. We analyzed Ab binding to a panel of 60 synthetic 19-residue peptides (peptide C31 was 24 residues) that overlapped consecutively by 5 residues and encompassed the entire BoNT/B heavy (H) chain (residues 442-1291). Most Abs recognized a limited set of peptides but the pattern and Ab levels bound varied with the patient, consistent with genetic control of immune responses and with responses to each epitope being separately controlled. Abs were bound by peptides (in decreasing order): C1 (residues 848-866), C10 (974-992), C16 (1058-1076), C14 (1030-1048), N15 (638-656), N21/N22 (722-740/736-754), N24/N25 (764-782/778-796) and N29 (834-852). Peptides N3/N4 (470-488/484-502), N27 (806-824), C2 (862-880), C4 (890-908), C6/C7 (918-936/932-950), C17 (1072-1090), C24 (1170-1188), C29 (1240-1258) and C31 (1268-1291) exhibited low Ab binding. The remaining peptides bound little or no Abs. Of the 30 antisera, 28 (93.3%) had Abs that bound to peptides C1, C10, C14 or C16, and 27 (90.0%) bound to peptide N22. No peptide was recognized by all the antisera, but peptide combinations N24+C1, N22+N24+C1, N24+C1+C10, C10+C14+C16, N22+N24+C1+C10, C1+C10+C14+C16 or N22+N24+C1+C10+C14 bound blocking Abs in 30 (100%) antisera. BoNT/B-treated CD patients had higher Ab levels and bound to more epitopes (at least 11) than did BoNT/A-treated patients (5 regions). The regions recognized by anti-BoNT/B Abs occupied surface areas that displayed no correlation to surface electrostatic potential, hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity, or temperature factor. These regions afford candidates for epitope-specific manipulation of anti-toxin immune responses.

Incorporation of Noncoded Amino Acids by In Vitro Protein Biosynthesis

The method of site-specific mutagenesis with noncoded amino acids using suppression of a nonsense codon by a semi-synthetic tRNA was first introduced in 1989. Initially used to probe the tolerance of the protein biosynthetic machinery for compounds other than the 20 primary amino acids, the method has since been applied to study a widely diverse range of biological problems. The ability to introduce side chains bearing subtle structural and electronic differences, fluorescent probes, isotope labels, photolabile protecting groups, chemical handles and photoactivated cross-linkers at unique sites has facilitated studies not currently accessible by other means. Improvements and alternatives to the early methodology are considered as well as some interesting recent applications.

Depolarization after resonance energy transfer (DARET): A sensitive fluorescence-based assay for botulinum neurotoxin protease activity

The DARET (depolarization after resonance energy transfer) assay is a coupled Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-fluorescence polarization assay for botulinum neurotoxin type A or E (BoNT/A or BoNT/E) proteolytic activity that relies on a fully recombinant substrate. The substrate consists of blue fluorescent protein (BFP) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) flanking SNAP-25 (synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa) residues 134-206. In this assay, the substrate is excited with polarized light at 387 nm, which primarily excites the BFP, whereas emission from the GFP is monitored at 509 nm. Energy transfer from the BFP to the GFP in the intact substrate results in a substantial depolarization of the GFP emission. The energy transfer is eliminated when the fluorescent domains separate on cleavage by the endopeptidase, and emission from the directly excited GFP product fragment is then highly polarized, resulting in an overall increase in polarization. This increase in polarization can be monitored to assay the proteolytic activity of BoNT/A and BoNT/E in real time. It allows determination of the turnover rate of the substrate and the kinetic constants (V(max) and k(cat)) based on the concentration of cleaved substrate determined directly from the measurements using the additivity properties of polarization. The assay is amenable to high-throughput applications.

Regions of botulinum neurotoxin A light chain recognized by human anti-toxin antibodies from cervical dystonia patients immunoresistant to toxin treatment. The antigenic structure of the active toxin recognized by human antibodies

This work was aimed at determining the BoNT/A L-chain antigenic regions recognized by blocking antibodies in human antisera from cervical dystonia patients who had become immunoresistant to BoNT/A treatment. Antisera from 28 immunoresistant patients were analyzed for binding to each of 32 overlapping synthetic peptides that spanned the entire L-chain. A mixture of the antisera showed that antibodies bound to three peptides, L11 (residues 141-159), L14 (183-201) and L18 (239-257). When mapped separately, the antibodies were bound only by a limited set of peptides. No peptide bound antibodies from all the patients and amounts of antibodies bound to a given peptide varied with the patient. Peptides L11, L14 and L18 were recognized predominantly. A small but significant number of patients had antibodies to peptides L27 (365-383) and L29 (379-397). Other peptides were recognized at very low and perhaps insignificant antibody levels by a minority (15% or less) of patients or had no detectable antibody with any of the sera. In the 3-dimensional structure, antibody-binding regions L11, L14 and L18 of the L-chain occupy surface areas and did not correlate with electrostatic potential, hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, or temperature factor. These three antigenic regions reside in close proximity to the belt of the heavy chain. The regions L11 and L18 are accessible in both the free light chain and the holotoxin forms, while L14 appears to be less accessible in the holotoxin. Antibodies against these regions could prevent delivery of the L-chain into the neurons by inhibition of the translocation.

Molecular immune recognition of botulinum neurotoxin B. The light chain regions that bind human blocking antibodies from toxin-treated cervical dystonia patients. Antigenic structure of the entire BoNT/B molecule.

We recently mapped the regions on the heavy (H) chain of botulinum neurotoxin, type B (BoNT/B) recognized by blocking antibodies (Abs) from cervical dystonia (CD) patients who develop immunoresistance during toxin treatment. Since blocking could also be effected by Abs directed against regions on the light (L) chain, we have mapped here the L chain, using the same 30 CD antisera. We synthesized, purified and characterized 32 19-residue L chain peptides that overlapped successively by 5 residues (peptide L32 overlapped with peptide N1 of the H chain by 12 residues). In a given patient, Abs against the L chain seemed less intense than those against H chain. Most sera recognized a limited set of L chain peptides. The levels of Abs against a given region varied with the patient, consistent with immune responses to each epitope being under separate MHC control. The peptides most frequently recognized were: L13, by 30 of 30 antisera (100%); L22, by 23 of 30 (76.67%); L19, by 15 of 30 (50.00%); L26, by 11 of 30 (36.70%); and L14, by 12 of 30 (40.00%). The activity of L14 probably derives from its overlap with L13. The levels of Ab binding decreased in the following order: L13 (residues 169-187), L22 (295-313), L19 (253-271), and L26 (351-369). Peptides L12 (155-173), L18 (239-257), L15 (197-215), L1 (1-19) and L23 (309-327) exhibited very low Ab binding. The remaining peptides had little or no Ab-binding activity. The antigenic regions are analyzed in terms of their three-dimensional locations and the enzyme active site. With the previous localization of the antigenic regions on the BoNT/B H chain, the human Ab recognition of the entire BoNT/B molecule is presented and compared to the recognition of BoNT/A by human blocking Abs.

Regions of recognition by blocking antibodies on the light chain of botulinum neurotoxin A: Antigenic structure of the entire toxin

The continuous regions on botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) light (L) chain recognized by anti-toxin antibodies (Abs) from mouse, horse and chicken have been mapped. We synthesized a panel of thirty-two 19-residue peptides that overlapped consecutively by 5 residues and encompassed the entire L chain (residues 1-453). Mouse Abs recognized 5 major antigenic regions on the L chain, horse Abs recognized 9 while chicken Abs recognized 8 major antigenic regions. Overall, however, the three host species recognized, to some extent, similar, but not identical, peptides and the levels of Abs directed against a given region varied with the immunized host. Differences in the MHC of the host caused variation in levels of Ab recognition and some epitopes showed right or left frame-shifts among the species. Selected region(s) were also uniquely recognized by one species (e.g., peptide L1 by horse Abs). Mapping of the L chain antigenic regions and the previous localization of the regions on the H chain with the same antisera, has permitted description of the complete antigenic structure of BoNT/A. The locations in the 3-dimensional structure of the antigenic regions of the entire toxin are shown for mouse Abs. In the 3-D structure, the antigenic regions are on the surface of the toxin and when antibodies are bound the enzymatic activity of the light chain is obstructed.

Characterization of Förster resonance energy transfer in a botulinum neurotoxin protease assay

Our previous article described a fluorescence-based assay for monitoring the proteolytic activity of botulinum neurotoxin types A and E (BoNT/A and BoNT/E). As detailed in that article, the assay is based on depolarization due to Förster resonance energy transfer between blue fluorescent protein (BFP) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) moieties linked via residues 134-206 of SNAP-25 (synaptosome-associated protein of 25kDa), the protein substrate for BoNT/A and BoNT/E. Before cleavage of this recombinant substrate, the polarization observed for the GFP emission, excited near the absorption maximum of the BFP, is very low due to depolarization following energy transfer from BFP to GFP. After substrate cleavage and diffusion of the fluorescent proteins beyond the energy transfer distance, the polarization is high due to observation of the emission only from directly excited GFP. This change in fluorescence polarization allows an assay, termed DARET (depolarization after resonance energy transfer), that is robust and sensitive. In this article, we characterize the spectroscopic parameters of the system before and after substrate cleavage, including excitation and emission spectra, polarizations, and lifetimes.