Characterization and visualization of tetanus toxin acceptors on adrenal chromaffin granules

P. Lazarovici*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Tetanus toxin (TT), a potent neurotoxin which blocks neurotransmitter release in neuronal systems, also inhibits Ca2+-induced catecholamine release from digitonin-permeabilized chromaffin cells. In searching for intracellular targets for the toxin we studied the binding of affinity-purified TT to bovine adrenal chromaffin granules. TT bound in a neuraminidase-sensitive fashion to intact granules and to isolated granule membranes, as assayed biochemically and visualized by electron microscopic techniques. The binding characteristics of the toxin to chromaffin granule membranes are very similar to the binding of TT to brain synaptosomal membranes. We suggest that the TT binding site is a glycoconjugate of the G1b type which is localized on the cytoplasmic face of the granule membrane and might be involved in exocytotic membrane fusion.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)197-205
Number of pages9
JournalJournal de Physiologie
Volume84
Issue number3
StatePublished - 1990

Keywords

  • Biotinylated derivative
  • Catecholamine secretion
  • Chromaffin granule
  • Exocytosis
  • Gold labeling
  • Polysialoglycoconjugate
  • Tetanus toxin

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