Title: Differential entry of Botulinum Neurotoxin A into neuronal and intestinal cells: an ultrastructural approach

Authors: Aurelie Couesnon, Cesare Colasante, Jordi Molgo, Michel R. Popoff

Addresses: Institut Pasteur, Unite des Bacteries anaerobies et Toxines, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris cedex, France. ' Facultad de Medicina, Laboratorio de Fisologia de la Conducta, Universidad de Los Andes, Merida 5101, Venezuela; and CNRS, Institut de Neurobiologie Alfred Fessard – FRC2118, Laboratoire de Neurobiologie Cellulaire et Moleculaire – UPR9040, Gif sur Yvette, France. ' CNRS, Institut de Neurobiologie Alfred Fessard – FRC2118, Laboratoire de Neurobiologie Cellulaire et Moleculaire – UPR9040, Gif sur Yvette, France. ' Institut Pasteur, Unite des Bacteries anaerobies et Toxines, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris cedex, France

Abstract: Recombinant C-terminus (Hc) of botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) was used to monitor toxin entry into NG108-15 neuronal cells and m-IC_cl2 intestinal cells by both fluorescence and electronic microscopy. BoNT/A Hc entered neuronal cells via a clathrin pathway and intestinal cells mainly via non-clathrin vesicles. Upon incubation at 4°C, BoNT/A Hc gold particles were mainly distributed to neuronal cell periphery and to a lower extent to m-IC_cl2 cells. After incubation at 37°C, BoNT/A Hc mostly transited in coated vesicles in NG108-15 cells and in uncoated vesicles of m-IC_cl2 cells, which support the transcytotic passage of the toxin.

Keywords: BoNT; botulinum neurotoxin; botulism; electron-microscopy; neuronal cells; intestinal cells; BoNT/A; gold particles.

DOI: 10.1504/TBJ.2010.039113

The Botulinum Journal, 2010 Vol.1 No.4, pp.375 - 392

Published online: 17 Mar 2011 *

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