Thermodynamic Evidence That Ganglioside-Mediated Insertion Of Botulinum A Into The Cholinergic Nerve Ending May Precede Endocytosis And Acidification: A Langmuir Film Study

Botulinum Neurotoxin (BoNT) is one of the most potent toxins known to human kind. The Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) was employed to investigate the conditions under which BoNT type A heavy chain would bind and/or insert into mica supported dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) lipid bilayers. As an alternate technique, DPPC/GT1b or total ganglioside extract (80:20) monolayers of a Langmuir Blodgett (LB) Trough were adapted to be artificial membrane models for toxin insertion studies. We conclude that LB monolayer studies are a promising candidate for BoNT/A membrane insertion investigation. Botulinum neurotoxin serotype A insertions into the LB monolayers in the presence of BoNT/A low affinity ganglioside receptor alone, independent of pH. This thermodynamic evidence indicates that BoNT/A may begin its heavy chain insertion into the cholinergic nerve ending before endocytosis and acidification.

Name thesis:degree_name

MS

Grantor dc:publisher

Brigham Young University - Provo

Author dc:creator

• Strongin, Bradley Adam

• Botulinum Neurotoxin Serotype A
• Atomic Force Microscopy
• Langmuir Blodgett
• Cell and Developmental Biology
• Physiology

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/1273

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsarchive.byu.edu:etd-2272