Characterization of clostridium botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A) and fibroblast growth factor receptor interactions using novel receptor dimerization assay

Sci Rep. 2021 Apr 9;11(1):7832. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-87331-7.

Abstract

Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A) is a potent neurotoxin that serves as an effective therapeutic for several neuromuscular disorders via induction of temporary muscular paralysis. Specific binding and internalization of BoNT/A into neuronal cells is mediated by its binding domain (HC/A), which binds to gangliosides, including GT1b, and protein cell surface receptors, including SV2. Previously, recombinant HC/A was also shown to bind to FGFR3. As FGFR dimerization is an indirect measure of ligand-receptor binding, an FCS & TIRF receptor dimerization assay was developed to measure rHC/A-induced dimerization of fluorescently tagged FGFR subtypes (FGFR1-3) in cells. rHC/A dimerized FGFR subtypes in the rank order FGFR3c (EC50 ≈ 27 nM) > FGFR2b (EC50 ≈ 70 nM) > FGFR1c (EC50 ≈ 163 nM); rHC/A dimerized FGFR3c with similar potency as the native FGFR3c ligand, FGF9 (EC50 ≈ 18 nM). Mutating the ganglioside binding site in HC/A, or removal of GT1b from the media, resulted in decreased dimerization. Interestingly, reduced dimerization was also observed with an SV2 mutant variant of HC/A. Overall, the results suggest that the FCS & TIRF receptor dimerization assay can assess FGFR dimerization with known and novel ligands and support a model wherein HC/A, either directly or indirectly, interacts with FGFRs and induces receptor dimerization.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Botulinum Toxins, Type A / chemistry
  • Botulinum Toxins, Type A / metabolism*
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Clostridium botulinum / enzymology*
  • Dimerization
  • ErbB Receptors / chemistry
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Gangliosides / metabolism
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurotoxins / chemistry
  • Neurotoxins / metabolism*
  • PC12 Cells
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Domains
  • Rats
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / chemistry
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / genetics
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / metabolism*
  • Serogroup*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics*
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Gangliosides
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Neurotoxins
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor
  • Sv2a protein, rat
  • trisialoganglioside GT1
  • Egfr protein, rat
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Botulinum Toxins, Type A