The structure of the tetanus toxin reveals pH-mediated domain dynamics

Geoffrey Masuyer, Julian Conrad, Pål Stenmark

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

49 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

The tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT) is a highly potent toxin produced by Clostridium tetani that inhibits neurotransmission of inhibitory interneurons, causing spastic paralysis in the tetanus disease. TeNT differs from the other clostridial neurotoxins by its unique ability to target the central nervous system by retrograde axonal transport. The crystal structure of the tetanus toxin reveals a “closed” domain arrangement stabilised by two disulphide bridges, and the molecular details of the toxin's interaction with its polysaccharide receptor. An integrative analysis combining X-ray crystallography, solution scattering and single particle electron cryo-microscopy reveals pH-mediated domain rearrangements that may give TeNT the ability to adapt to the multiple environments encountered during intoxication, and facilitate binding to distinct receptors.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1306-1317
Number of pages12
JournalEMBO Reports
Volume18
Issue number8
Early online date23 Jun 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 23 Jun 2017

Keywords

  • clostridial toxin
  • tentoxilysin
  • tetanospasmin
  • tetanus neurotoxin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

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