Characterization of nicking of the nontoxic-nonhemagglutinin components of Clostridium botulinum types C and D progenitor toxin

J Protein Chem. 2000 Oct;19(7):575-81. doi: 10.1023/a:1007198202016.

Abstract

Clostridium botulinum C and D strains produce two types of progenitor toxins, M and L. Previously we reported that a 130-kDa nontoxic-nonhemagglutinin (NTNHA) component of the M toxin produced by type D strain CB16 was nicked at a unique site, leading to a 15-kDa N-terminal fragment and a 115-kDa C-terminal fragment. In this study, we identified the amino acid sequences around the nicking sites in the NTNHAs of the M toxins produced by C. botulinum type C and D strains by analysis of their C-terminal and N-terminal sequences and mass spectrometry. The C-terminus of the 15-kDa fragments was identified as Lys127 from these strains, indicating that a bacterial trypsin-like protease is responsible for the nicking. The 115-kDa fragment had mixtures of three different N-terminal amino acid sequences beginning with Leu135, Val139, and Ser141, indicating that 7-13 amino acid residues were deleted from the nicking site. The sequence beginning with Leu135 would also suggest cleavage by a trypsin-like protease, while the other two N-terminal amino acid sequences beginning with Val139 and Ser141 would imply proteolysis by an unknown protease. The nicked NTNHA forms a binary complex of two fragments that could not be separated without sodium dodecyl sulfate.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Botulinum Toxins / chemistry*
  • Botulinum Toxins / isolation & purification
  • Botulinum Toxins / metabolism
  • Clostridium botulinum / enzymology
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Hemagglutinins / chemistry
  • Hemagglutinins / isolation & purification
  • Lectins
  • Neurotoxins / chemistry*
  • Neurotoxins / isolation & purification
  • Neurotoxins / metabolism
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Sequence Analysis, Protein
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Substances

  • Clostridium botulinum L toxin
  • Clostridium botulinum M toxin
  • Hemagglutinins
  • Lectins
  • Neurotoxins
  • Peptide Fragments
  • botulinum toxin type D
  • Endopeptidases
  • Botulinum Toxins
  • botulinum toxin type C