Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Gu S
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3545708 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Science (New York, N.Y.) 20120201 6071
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are highly poisonous substances that are also effective medicines. Accidental BoNT poisoning often occurs through ingestion of Clostridium botulinum-contaminated food. Here, we present the crystal structure of a BoNT in complex with a clostridial nontoxic nonhemagglutinin (NTNHA) protein at 2.7 angstroms. Biochemical and functional studies show that NTNHA provides large and multivalent binding interfaces to protect BoNT from gastrointestinal degradation. Moreover, t ...[more]