Synfacts 2010(5): 0502-0502  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1219646
Synthesis of Natural Products and Potential Drugs
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Synthesis of a Botulinum Protease Inhibitor

Contributor(s): Philip Kocienski
G. N. Stowe, P. Silhár, M. S. Hixon, N. R. Silvaggi, K. N. Allen*, S. T. Moe, A. R. Jacobson*, J. T. Barbieri, K. D. Janda*
The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, Takeda San Diego, Inc., Boston University, Absolute Science, Inc., Cambridge and Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
22 April 2010 (online)

Significance

The botulinum neurotoxin serotype (BoNT/A), the most toxic protein known, is a 150 kD protein consisting of a 100 kD heavy chain and a 50 kD light chain linked by disulfide bonds. The light chain is a zinc-dependent endopeptidase that cleaves fusion proteins located at nerve endings with consequent paralysis and death.