Title: Hemagglutinin-33 in the neurotoxin complex of type A Clostridium botulinum is a Heat Shock Protein

Authors: Hem Dutt Shukla, Bal Ram Singh

Addresses: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Dartmouth, MA 02747, USA. ' Botulinum Research Center, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 285 Old Westport Road, Dartmouth, MA 02747, USA

Abstract: The response of Clostridium botulinum type A strain to elevated temperature was investigated with respect to its growth pattern, and qualitative and quantitative alterations in the protein profile. Transfer of the mid log phase cells from 37°C to 45°C repressed the synthesis of several cellular proteins and concomitantly, synthesis of some proteins including a 33 kDa polypeptide, was markedly enhanced. The induction and synthesis of 33 kDa protein was also observed in 2-D gel analysis of the cells grown at 37°C and 45°C. Immunoblot analysis revealed that 33 kDa protein is a hemagglutinin component of the neurotoxin complex of type A Clostridium botulinum. From these findings we conclude that the 33 kDa protein component of type A neurotoxin complex, known to protect and stabilise neurotoxins from a hostile environment, is a Heat Shock Protein (HSP).

Keywords: chaperone; immunoblot; HSPs; heat shock proteins; heat stress; hemagglutinin; neurotoxins; neurotoxin complex; protection; clostridium botulinum.

DOI: 10.1504/TBJ.2009.031682

The Botulinum Journal, 2009 Vol.1 No.3, pp.309 - 317

Published online: 17 Feb 2010 *

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