Binding of epsilon-toxin from Clostridium perfringens in the nervous system. 2008

Jonatan Dorca-Arévalo, and Alex Soler-Jover, and Maryse Gibert, and Michel R Popoff, and Mireia Martín-Satué, and Juan Blasi
Departament de Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, Universitat de Barcelona-IDIBELL, c/Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.

Epsilon-toxin (epsilon-toxin), produced by Clostridium perfringens type D, is the main agent responsible for enterotoxaemia in livestock. Neurological disorders are a characteristic of the onset of toxin poisoning. Epsilon-Toxin accumulates specifically in the central nervous system, where it produces a glutamatergic-mediated excitotoxic effect. However, no detailed study of putative binding structures in the nervous tissue has been carried out to date. Here we attempt to identify specific acceptor moieties and cell targets for epsilon-toxin, not only in the mouse nervous system but also in the brains of sheep and cattle. An epsilon-toxin-GFP fusion protein was produced and used to incubate brain sections, which were then analyzed by confocal microscopy. The results clearly show specific binding of epsilon-toxin to myelin structures. epsilon-Prototoxin-GFP and epsilon-toxin-GFP, the inactive and active forms of the toxin, respectively, showed identical results. By means of pronase E treatment, we found that the binding was mainly associated to a protein component of the myelin. Myelinated peripheral nerve fibres were also stained by epsilon-toxin. Moreover, the binding to myelin was not only restricted to rodents, but was also found in humans, sheep and cattle. Curiously, in the brains of both sheep and cattle, the toxin strongly stained the vascular endothelium, a result that may explain the differences in potency and effect between species. Although the binding of epsilon-toxin to myelin does not directly explain its neurotoxic effect, this feature opens up a new line of enquiry into its mechanism of toxicity and establishes the usefulness of this toxin for the study of the mammalian nervous system.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009186 Myelin Sheath The lipid-rich sheath surrounding AXONS in both the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEMS and PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. The myelin sheath is an electrical insulator and allows faster and more energetically efficient conduction of impulses. The sheath is formed by the cell membranes of glial cells (SCHWANN CELLS in the peripheral and OLIGODENDROGLIA in the central nervous system). Deterioration of the sheath in DEMYELINATING DISEASES is a serious clinical problem. Myelin,Myelin Sheaths,Sheath, Myelin,Sheaths, Myelin
D009420 Nervous System The entire nerve apparatus, composed of a central part, the brain and spinal cord, and a peripheral part, the cranial and spinal nerves, autonomic ganglia, and plexuses. (Stedman, 26th ed) Nervous Systems,System, Nervous,Systems, Nervous
D011485 Protein Binding The process in which substances, either endogenous or exogenous, bind to proteins, peptides, enzymes, protein precursors, or allied compounds. Specific protein-binding measures are often used as assays in diagnostic assessments. Plasma Protein Binding Capacity,Binding, Protein
D011993 Recombinant Fusion Proteins Recombinant proteins produced by the GENETIC TRANSLATION of fused genes formed by the combination of NUCLEIC ACID REGULATORY SEQUENCES of one or more genes with the protein coding sequences of one or more genes. Fusion Proteins, Recombinant,Recombinant Chimeric Protein,Recombinant Fusion Protein,Recombinant Hybrid Protein,Chimeric Proteins, Recombinant,Hybrid Proteins, Recombinant,Recombinant Chimeric Proteins,Recombinant Hybrid Proteins,Chimeric Protein, Recombinant,Fusion Protein, Recombinant,Hybrid Protein, Recombinant,Protein, Recombinant Chimeric,Protein, Recombinant Fusion,Protein, Recombinant Hybrid,Proteins, Recombinant Chimeric,Proteins, Recombinant Fusion,Proteins, Recombinant Hybrid
D001812 Blood-Brain Barrier Specialized non-fenestrated tightly-joined ENDOTHELIAL CELLS with TIGHT JUNCTIONS that form a transport barrier for certain substances between the cerebral capillaries and the BRAIN tissue. Brain-Blood Barrier,Hemato-Encephalic Barrier,Barrier, Blood-Brain,Barrier, Brain-Blood,Barrier, Hemato-Encephalic,Barriers, Blood-Brain,Barriers, Brain-Blood,Barriers, Hemato-Encephalic,Blood Brain Barrier,Blood-Brain Barriers,Brain Blood Barrier,Brain-Blood Barriers,Hemato Encephalic Barrier,Hemato-Encephalic Barriers
D001921 Brain The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM. Encephalon
D002417 Cattle Domesticated bovine animals of the genus Bos, usually kept on a farm or ranch and used for the production of meat or dairy products or for heavy labor. Beef Cow,Bos grunniens,Bos indicus,Bos indicus Cattle,Bos taurus,Cow,Cow, Domestic,Dairy Cow,Holstein Cow,Indicine Cattle,Taurine Cattle,Taurus Cattle,Yak,Zebu,Beef Cows,Bos indicus Cattles,Cattle, Bos indicus,Cattle, Indicine,Cattle, Taurine,Cattle, Taurus,Cattles, Bos indicus,Cattles, Indicine,Cattles, Taurine,Cattles, Taurus,Cow, Beef,Cow, Dairy,Cow, Holstein,Cows,Dairy Cows,Domestic Cow,Domestic Cows,Indicine Cattles,Taurine Cattles,Taurus Cattles,Yaks,Zebus
D003016 Clostridium perfringens The most common etiologic agent of GAS GANGRENE. It is differentiable into several distinct types based on the distribution of twelve different toxins. Clostridium welchii
D004767 Enterotoxemia Disease caused by the liberation of exotoxins of CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS in the intestines of sheep, goats, cattle, foals, and piglets. Type B enterotoxemia in lambs is lamb dysentery; type C enterotoxemia in mature sheep produces "struck", and in calves, lambs and piglets it produces hemorrhagic enterotoxemia; type D enterotoxemia in sheep and goats is pulpy-kidney disease or overeating disease. Enterotoxemias
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

Related Publications

Jonatan Dorca-Arévalo, and Alex Soler-Jover, and Maryse Gibert, and Michel R Popoff, and Mireia Martín-Satué, and Juan Blasi
May 2012, Veterinary microbiology,
Jonatan Dorca-Arévalo, and Alex Soler-Jover, and Maryse Gibert, and Michel R Popoff, and Mireia Martín-Satué, and Juan Blasi
January 2019, Biochimica et biophysica acta. Biomembranes,
Jonatan Dorca-Arévalo, and Alex Soler-Jover, and Maryse Gibert, and Michel R Popoff, and Mireia Martín-Satué, and Juan Blasi
June 2015, mBio,
Jonatan Dorca-Arévalo, and Alex Soler-Jover, and Maryse Gibert, and Michel R Popoff, and Mireia Martín-Satué, and Juan Blasi
December 1987, Microbial pathogenesis,
Jonatan Dorca-Arévalo, and Alex Soler-Jover, and Maryse Gibert, and Michel R Popoff, and Mireia Martín-Satué, and Juan Blasi
January 1985, Infection and immunity,
Jonatan Dorca-Arévalo, and Alex Soler-Jover, and Maryse Gibert, and Michel R Popoff, and Mireia Martín-Satué, and Juan Blasi
March 1992, Infection and immunity,
Jonatan Dorca-Arévalo, and Alex Soler-Jover, and Maryse Gibert, and Michel R Popoff, and Mireia Martín-Satué, and Juan Blasi
June 2019, Nature communications,
Jonatan Dorca-Arévalo, and Alex Soler-Jover, and Maryse Gibert, and Michel R Popoff, and Mireia Martín-Satué, and Juan Blasi
December 2013, Toxicon : official journal of the International Society on Toxinology,
Jonatan Dorca-Arévalo, and Alex Soler-Jover, and Maryse Gibert, and Michel R Popoff, and Mireia Martín-Satué, and Juan Blasi
October 1986, Microbial pathogenesis,
Jonatan Dorca-Arévalo, and Alex Soler-Jover, and Maryse Gibert, and Michel R Popoff, and Mireia Martín-Satué, and Juan Blasi
December 1983, Infection and immunity,
Copied contents to your clipboard!