Structural Analysis of Botulinum Neurotoxin Type G Receptor Binding

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) binds peripheral neurons at the neuromuscular junction through a dual-receptor mechanism that includes interactions with ganglioside and protein receptors. The receptor identities vary depending on BoNT serotype (A-G). BoNT/B and BoNT/G bind the luminal domains of Synaptotagmin (Syt)-I and SytII, homologous synaptic vesicle proteins. We observe conditions in which BoNT/B binds both Syt isoforms, but BoNT/G only binds SytI. Both serotypes bind ganglioside GT1b. The BoNT/G receptor-binding domain crystal structure provides a context for examining these binding interactions and a platform to understand the physiological relevance of different Syt receptor isoforms in vivo.