Molecular basis for disruption of E-cadherin adhesion by botulinum neurotoxin A complex

Abstract

Breaking through the epithelial barrier Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) poisons its host when it crosses the intestinal epithelial barrier. To help it cross this barrier, the toxin forms a large complex with three bacterial proteins called hemagglutinins (HAs). To find out what happens when this complex binds to a cell-adhesion protein called E-cadherin, Lee et al. crystallized the bound complex and protein. Toxin binding disrupted the way E-cadherin maintains the epithelial barrier. When the researchers prevented the toxin complex from binding to E-cadherin, mice were protected from the toxin's deadly effects. Science , this issue p. 1405