Fusion complex formation protects synaptobrevin against proteolysis by tetanus toxin light chain

FEBS Lett. 1994 Oct 24;353(3):319-23. doi: 10.1016/0014-5793(94)01070-6.

Abstract

The clostridial neurotoxin, tetanus toxin, is a Zn(2+)-dependent protease which inhibits neurotransmitter exocytosis by selective cleavage of the synaptic vesicle protein, synaptobrevin. Synaptobrevin is thought to serve as a receptor for two neuronal plasma membrane proteins, syntaxin and SNAP-25, which in the presence of non-hydrolyzable ATP analogs form a 20 S fusion complex with the soluble fusion proteins NSF and alpha-SNAP. Here we show that synaptobrevin, when in this 20 S complex, or its 7 S precursor, is protected against proteolysis by the enzymatically active tetanus toxin light chain. Our data define distinct pools of synaptobrevin, which provide markers of different steps of vesicle/plasma membrane interaction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Surface / metabolism
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • N-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Precursors / metabolism
  • R-SNARE Proteins
  • Rats
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Soluble N-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Factor Attachment Proteins
  • Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25
  • Syntaxin 1
  • Tetanus Toxin / chemistry
  • Tetanus Toxin / pharmacology*
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins*

Substances

  • Antigens, Surface
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Protein Precursors
  • R-SNARE Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Snap25 protein, rat
  • Soluble N-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Factor Attachment Proteins
  • Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25
  • Syntaxin 1
  • Tetanus Toxin
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins
  • N-Ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Proteins
  • Nsf protein, rat