Expression of Shiga Toxin B Subunit at Cell Surface in E. coli K-12

The three parts(Stx17B, Stx27B and StxB) of Shiga toxin B subunit have been fused into a cell surface exposed loop of the LamB protein at a BamH I site between residues 153 and 154. Western blotting revealed that the three parts of Shiga toxin B subunit could be expressed as the Lamb fusion proteins in E. coli. Indirect immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy analyses showed fusion proteins LamB/Stx17B and LamB/Stx27B could be expressed at cell surface in E. coli, but fusion protein LamB/StxB could not be expressed at cell surface; it was aggregated in cytoplasm and was toxic to host. This expression system provided a new way to construct an oral live vaccine against Shigella dysenteriae 1.     

Application of combined high-performance thin-layer chromatography immunostaining and nanoelectrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry to the structural characterization of high- and low-affinity binding ligands of Shiga toxin 1

Shiga toxin 1 (Stx1) represents an AB5 toxin produced by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, which cause gastrointestinal diseases in humans that are often followed by potentially fatal systemic complications, such as acute encephalopathy and hemolytic uremic syndrome. The expression of the preferential Stx1 receptor, Gb3Cer/CD77 (Gal alpha1-4Gal beta1-4Glc beta1-1Cer), is one of the primary determinants of susceptibility to tissue injury. Due to the clinical importance of this life-threatening toxin, a combined strategy of preparative high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) overlay assay and mass spectrometry was developed for the detection and structural characterization of Stx1-binding glycosphingolipids (GSLs). A preparation of neutral GSLs from human erythrocytes, comprising 21.4% and 59.1% of the high- and low-affinity Stx1-binding ligands Gb3Cer/CD77 and Gb4Cer, respectively, was separated on silica gel precoated HPTLC plates and probed for the presence of Stx1 receptors. Stx1 positive on the one hand and anti-Gb3Cer/CD77 and anti-Gb4Cer antibody positive bands from parallel reference runs on the other hand were extracted with chloroform/methanol/water (30/60/8, v/v/v). These crude extracts were used without any further purification for a detailed structural analysis by nanoelectrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (nanoESI-QTOF-MS) in the negative ion mode. In all extracts investigated, neutral GSLs were detected as singly charged deprotonated molecular ions, [M-H]-, and neither buffer-derived salt adducts nor coextracted contaminants from the overlay assay procedure or the silica gel layer were observed. For the structural characterization of Stx1- and antibody-binding GSLs low-energy collision-induced dissociation (CID) was applied to high and low abundant receptor species of the crude extracts. All MS/MS spectra obtained contained full series of Y-type ions, B-type ions and additional ions generated by ring cleavages of the sugar moiety. Only analytical quantities in the microgram scale of a single GSL species within the complex GSL mixture were required for the structural MS characterization of Stx1 ligands as Gb3Cer/CD77 and Gb4Cer. This effective combined HPTLC/MS procedure offers a broad range of applications, not only for toxins of bacterial origin, but also for any GSL-binding agents such as plant-derived lectins or human proteins with yet unknown binding specificities.     

First detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in shellfish and coastal environments of Morocco

Shiga toxin Escherichia coli (STEC), also called verotoxin-producing E. coli, is a major cause of food-borne illness, capable of causing hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic–uremic syndrome (HUS). This study was carried out to evaluate the presence of (STEC) and E. coli O157:H7 in shellfish and Mediterranean coastal environments of Morocco. The contamination of shellfish and marine environment with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and E. coli O157:H7, was investigated during 2007 and 2008. A total of 619 samples were analyzed and 151 strains of E. coli were isolated. The presence of the stx1, stx2, and eae genes was tested in E. coli isolates strains using a triplex polymerase chain reaction. STEC was detected in three positives samples (1.9%), corresponding to the serotype O157:H7, the others Shiga toxin-producing E. coli non-O157 were also detected.     

Discovery of Inhibitors of Shiga Toxin Type 2 by On‐Plate Generation and Screening of a Focused Compound Library

A new microtiter‐plate‐based method for the rapid generation and evaluation of focused compound libraries was developed and applied to screening ligand analogues for the E. coli Shiga‐like toxin Stx2a. The method is general, it mitigates the masking of intrinsic affinity gains by multivalency and enables the discovery of potential hits when starting from ligands that exhibit extremely low affinity with proteins that depend on multivalency for their function.     

Stability of the homopentameric b subunits of shiga toxins 1 and 2 in solution and the gas phase as revealed by nanoelectrospray fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

The assembly of the B subunits of Shiga toxins (Stx) 1 and 2 and the influence of solution conditions (protein concentration, temperature, pH, and ionic strength) on it are investigated using temperature-controlled nanoflow electrospray (nano-ES) ionization and Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Despite the similar higher order structure predicted by X-ray crystallography analysis, the B(5) homopentamers of Stx1 and Stx2 exhibit differences in stability under the solution conditions investigated. At solution temperatures ranging from 0 to 60 degrees C and subunit concentrations ranging from 5 to 85 microM, the Stx1 B subunit exists almost entirely as the homopentamer in aqueous solutions, independent of the ionic strength. In contrast, the degree of assembly of Stx2 B subunit is strongly dependent on temperature, subunit concentration, and ionic strength. At subunit concentrations of more than 50 microM, the Stx2 B subunit exists predominantly as a pentamer, although smaller multimers (dimer, trimer, and tetramer) are also evident. At lower concentrations, the Stx2 B subunit exists predominantly as monomer and dimer. The relative abundance of multimeric species of the Stx2 B subunit was insensitive to the ion source conditions, suggesting that gas-phase dissociation of the pentamer ions in the source does not influence the mass spectrum. Blackbody infrared radiative dissociation of the protonated B(5) ions of Stx2 at the +12 and +13 charge states proceeds, at reaction temperatures of 120 to 180 degrees C, predominantly by the ejection of a single subunit from the complex. Dissociation into dimer and trimer ions constitutes a minor pathway. It follows that the dimer and trimer ions and, likely, the monomer ions observed in the nano-ES mass spectra of Stx2 B subunit originated in solution and not from gas-phase reactions. It is concluded that, under the solution conditions investigated, the homopentamer of Stx2 B subunit is thermodynamically less stable than that of Stx1 B subunit. Arrhenius activation parameters determined for the protonated Stx2 B(5) ions at the +12 and +13 charge states were compared with values reported for the corresponding B(5) ions of Stx1 B subunit. In contrast to the differential stability of the Stx1 and Stx2 B pentamers in solution, the dissociation activation energies (E(a)) determined for the gaseous complexes are indistinguishable at a given charge state. The similarity in the E(a) values suggests that the protonated pentamer ions of both toxins are stabilized by similar intersubunit interactions in the gas phase, a result that is in agreement with the X-ray crystal structures of the holotoxins.     

Influence of coulombic repulsion on the dissociation pathways and energetics of multiprotein complexes in the gas phase

Thermal dissociation experiments, implemented with blackbody infrared radiative dissociation and Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry, are performed on gaseous protonated and deprotonated ions of the homopentameric B subunits of Shiga toxin 1 (Stx1 B5) and Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2 B5) and the homotetramer streptavidin (S4). Dissociation of the gaseous, multisubunit complexes proceeds predominantly by the loss of a single subunit. Notably, the fractional partitioning of charge between the product ions, i.e., the leaving subunit and the resulting multimer, for a given complex is, within error, constant over the range of charge states investigated. The Arrhenius activation parameters (E(a), A) measured for the loss of subunit decrease with increasing charge state of the complex. However, the parameters for the protonated and deprotonated ions, with the same number of charges, are indistinguishable. The influence of the complex charge state on the dissociation pathways and the magnitude of the dissociation E(a) are modeled theoretically with the discrete charge droplet model (DCDM) and the protein structure model (PSM), wherein the structure of the subunits is considered. Importantly, the major subunit charge states observed experimentally for the Stx1 B5(n+/-) ions correspond to the minimum energy charge distribution predicted by DCDM and PSM assuming a late dissociative transition-state (TS); while for structurally-related Stx2 B5(n+) ions, the experimental charge distribution corresponds to an early TS. It is proposed that the lateness of the TS is related, in part, to the degree of unfolding of the leaving subunit, with Stx1 B being more unfolded than Stx2 B. PSM, incorporating significant subunit unfolding is necessary to account for the product ions observed for the S4(n+) ions. The contribution of Coulombic repulsion to the dissociation E(a) is quantified and the intrinsic activation energy is estimated for the first time.     

On the structural diversity of Shiga toxin glycosphingolipid receptors in lymphoid and myeloid cells determined by nanoelectrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Shiga toxin (Stx, synonymous to verotoxin, VT) binds with high and low affinity to the globo‐series neutral glycosphingolipids (GSLs), globotriaosylceramide (Gb3Cer or Galα4Galβ4Glcβ1Cer, also known as CD77) and globotetraosylceramide (Gb4Cer or GalNAcβ3Galα4Galβ4Glcβ1Cer), respectively, which represent the targets of Stxs on many different cell types. B‐cell‐derived Raji cells and THP‐1 cells of monocytic origin are widely used for the investigation of Stx‐mediated cellular response, because Stx is known to cause cell death in both cell lines. Despite their functional importance, the Stx receptors of Raji and THP‐1 cells have so far not been investigated. This prompted us to explore the structures of their GSL receptors in detail by means of nanoelectrospray ionization quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (nanoESI‐QTOF‐MS) with collision‐induced dissociation (CID) in conjunction with Stx1 as well as anti‐Gb3Cer and anti‐Gb4Cer antibodies. Using the combination of a thin‐layer chromatography (TLC) overlay assay and MS¹ and MS² analysis we identified Gb3Cer (d18:1, C24:1/C24:0) as the prevalent Stx1‐receptor accompanied by less abundant Gb3Cer (d18:1, C16:0) in the neutral GSL fraction of Raji cells. The same Gb3Cer species but with almost equal proportions of the C24:1/C24:0 and C16:0 variants were found in THP‐1 cells. In addition, unusual hydroxylated Gb3Cer (d18:1, C24:1/C24:0) and Gb3Cer (d18:1, C26:1) could be identified in trace quantities in both cell lines. As the most obvious difference between Raji and THP‐1 cells we observed the expression of Gb4Cer in THP‐1 cells, whereas Raji cells failed to express this elongation product of Gb3Cer. Both short‐ and long‐chain fatty acid carrying Gb4Cer (d18:1, C16:0) and Gb4Cer (d18:1, C24:1/C24:0), respectively, were the prevalent Gb4Cer variants. This first report on the differential expression of Gb3Cer and Gb4Cer and their structural diversity in lymphoid and myeloid cell lines supports the hypothesis that such heterogeneities might play a functional role in the molecular assembly of GSLs in membrane organization and cellular signaling of Stx‐susceptible cells. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Targeting bacterial toxins

Protein toxins constitute the main virulence factors of several species of bacteria and have proven to be attractive targets for drug development. Lead candidates that target bacterial toxins range from small molecules to polymeric binders, and act at each of the multiple steps in the process of toxin-mediated pathogenicity. Despite recent and significant advances in the field, a rationally designed drug that targets toxins has yet to reach the market. This Review presents the state of the art in bacterial toxin targeted drug development with a critical consideration of achieved breakthroughs and withstanding challenges. The discussion focuses on A-B-type protein toxins secreted by four species of bacteria, namely Clostridium difficile (toxins A and B), Vibrio cholerae (cholera toxin), enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (Shiga toxin), and Bacillus anthracis (anthrax toxin), which are the causative agents of diseases for which treatments need to be improved.     

Analysis of T-2 and HT-2 toxins in cereal grains by immunoaffinity clean-up and liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A sensitive, precise and accurate method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of T-2 and HT-2 toxins in cereal grains at ppb levels using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection and 1-antroylnitrile (1-AN) as labeling reagent after immunoaffinity clean-up. Cereal samples were extracted with methanol/water (90:10, v/v), and the extracts were cleaned-up through commercially available immunoaffinity columns containing monoclonal anti-T-2 antibodies (T-2 test HPLC, Vicam). T-2 and HT-2 toxins were quantified by reversed-phase HPLC with fluorometric detection (excitation wavelength 381 nm, emission wavelength 470 nm) after derivatization with 1-AN. The monoclonal antibody showed 100% cross-reactivity with both T-2 and HT-2 toxin, and the immunoaffinity column clean-up was effective up to 1.4 microg of both toxins. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of T-2 and HT-2 toxins in wheat, maize and barley. Recoveries from spiked samples with toxin levels from 25 to 500 microg/kg ranged from 70% to 100%, with relative standard deviation generally lower than 8%. The limit of detection of the method was 5 microg/kg for T-2 toxin and 3 microg/kg for HT-2 toxin, based on a signal-to-noise ratio 3:1. HT-2 toxin was detected in ten naturally contaminated wheat samples out of 14 samples analyzed, with toxin levels ranging from 10 to 71 microg/kg; three of them contained also T-2 toxin up to 12 microg/kg.     

Heterobifunctional multivalent inhibitor-adaptor mediates specific aggregation between Shiga toxin and a pentraxin

[reaction: see text] The first example of a multivalent heterofunctional inhibitor-adaptor, called "BAIT", is described. This multivalent inhibitor-adaptor is able to capture a "target" receptor (Shiga toxin) through its recognition of one ligand of a heterobivalent headgroup while the other ligand binds to an endogenous "trap" protein (serum amyloid P component, SAP). BAIT showed markedly enhanced inhibition of toxin activity. An efficient synthesis of this multivalent cluster containing heterobifunctional ligands was accomplished by chemical and chemoenzymatic approaches.     

Determination of type A and type B trichothecenes in paprika and chili pepper using LC-triple quadrupole-MS and GC-ECD

There is a need to develop sensitive and accurate analytical methods for determining deoxynivalenol (DON), HT-2 toxin and T-2 toxin in paprika to properly assess the relevant risk of human exposure. An optimized analytical method for determination of HT-2 toxin and T-2 toxin using capillary gas chromatography with electron capture detection and another method for determination of DON by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in paprika was developed. The method for determination of HT-2 toxin and T-2 toxin that gave the best recoveries involved extraction of the sample with acetonitrile-water (84:16, v/v), clean-up by solid-phase extraction on a cartridge made of different sorbent materials followed by a further clean-up in immunoaffinity column that was specific for the two toxins. The solvent was changed and the eluate was derivatized with pentafluoropropionic anhydride and injected into the GC system. The limits of detection (LOD) for T-2 and HT-2 toxins were 7 and 3 μg/kg, respectively, and the recovery rates for paprika spiked with 1000 μg toxin/kg were 71.1% and 80.1% for HT-2 and T-2 toxins, respectively. For DON determination, the optimized method consisted of extraction with acetonitrile-water (84:16, v/v) solution followed by a solid-phase extraction clean-up process in a cartridge made of different sorbent compounds. After solvent evaporation in N₂ stream, the residue was dissolved and DON was separated and determined by LC-MS/MS. The LOD for this method was 14 μg DON/kg paprika sample and the DON recovery rate was 86.8%.     

Detecting Protein–Glycolipid Interactions Using Glycomicelles and CaR-ESI-MS

This study reports on the use of the catch-and-release electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (CaR-ESI-MS) assay, combined with glycomicelles, as a method for detecting specific interactions between water-soluble proteins and glycolipids (GLs) in aqueous solution. The B subunit homopentamers of cholera toxin (CTB₅) and Shiga toxin type 1 B (Stx1B₅) and the gangliosides GM1, GM2, GM3, GD1a, GD1b, GT1b, and GD2 served as model systems for this study. The CTB₅ exhibits broad specificity for gangliosides and binds to GM1, GM2, GM3, GD1a, GD1b, and GT1b; Stx1B₅ does not recognize gangliosides. The CaR-ESI-MS assay was used to analyze solutions of CTB₅ or Stx1B₅ and individual gangliosides (GM1, GM2, GM3, GD1a, GD1b, GT1b, and GD2) or mixtures thereof. The high affinity interaction of CTB₅ with GM1 was successfully detected. However, the apparent affinity, as determined from the mass spectra, is significantly lower than that of the corresponding pentasaccharide or when GM1 is presented in model membranes such as nanodiscs. Interactions between CTB₅ and the low affinity gangliosides GD1a, GD1b, and GT1b, as well as GD2, which served as a negative control, were detected; no binding of CTB₅ to GM2 or GM3 was observed. The CaR-ESI-MS results obtained for Stx1B₅ reveal that nonspecific protein-ganglioside binding can occur during the ESI process, although the extent of binding varies between gangliosides. Consequently, interactions detected for CTB₅ with GD1a, GD1b, and GT1b are likely nonspecific in origin. Taken together, these results reveal that the CaR-ESI-MS/glycomicelle approach for detecting protein–GL interactions is prone to false positives and false negatives and must be used with caution.

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A mussel tissue certified reference material for multiple phycotoxins. Part 1: design and preparation

The development of multi-analyte methods for lipophilic shellfish toxins based on liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry permits rapid screening and analysis of samples for a wide variety of toxins in a single run. Validated methods and appropriate certified reference materials (CRMs) are required to ensure accuracy of results. CRMs are essential for accurate instrument calibration, for assessing the complete analytical method from sample extraction to data analysis and for verifying trueness. However, CRMs have hitherto only been available for single toxin groups. Production of a CRM containing six major toxin groups was achieved through an international collaboration. Preparation of this material, CRM-FDMT1, drew on information from earlier studies as well as improved methods for isolation of toxins, handling bulk tissues and production of reference materials. Previous investigations of stabilisation techniques indicated freeze-drying to be a suitable procedure for preparation of shellfish toxin reference materials and applicable to a wide range of toxins. CRM-FDMT1 was initially prepared as a bulk wet tissue homogenate containing domoic acid, okadaic acid, dinophysistoxins, azaspiracids, pectenotoxin-2, yessotoxin and 13-desmethylspirolide C. The homogenate was then freeze-dried, milled and bottled in aliquots suitable for distribution and analysis. The moisture content and particle size distribution were measured, and determined to be appropriate. A preliminary toxin analysis of the final material showed a comprehensive toxin profile.     

Induction and identification of disulfide-intact and disulfide-reduced β-subunit of Shiga toxin 2 from Escherichia coli O157:H7 using MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS/MS and top-down proteomics

The disulfide-intact and disulfide-reduced β-subunit of Shiga toxin 2 (β-Stx2) from Escherichia coli O157:H7 (strain EDL933) has been identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-TOF-MS/MS) and top-down proteomic analysis using software developed in-house. E. coli O157:H7 was induced to express Stx2 by culturing on solid agar media supplemented with 10-50 ng mL(-1) of ciprofloxacin (CP). Bacterial cell lysates at each CP concentration were analyzed by MALDI-TOF-MS. A prominent ion at mass-to-charge (m/z) ~7820 was observed for the CP concentration range: 10-50 ng mL(-1), reaching a maximum signal intensity at 20 ng mL(-1). Complex MS/MS data were obtained of the ion at m/z ~7820 by post-source decay resulting in top-down proteomic identification as the mature, signal peptide-removed, disulfide-intact β-Stx2. Eight fragment ion triplets (each spaced Δm/z ~33 apart) were also observed resulting from backbone cleavage between the two cysteine residues (that form the intra-molecular disulfide bond) and symmetric and asymmetric cleavage of the disulfide bond. The middle fragment ion of each triplet, from symmetric disulfide bond cleavage, was matched to an in silico fragment ion formed from cleavage of the backbone at a site adjacent to an aspartic acid or glutamic acid residue. The flanking fragment ions of each triplet, from asymmetric disulfide bond cleavage, were not matched because their corresponding in silico fragment ions are not represented in the database. Easier to interpret MS/MS data were obtained for the disulfide-reduced β-Stx2 which resulted in an improved top-down identification.     

Gas chromatographic assay with pharmacokinetic applications for monitoring T-2 and HT-2 toxins in plasma

A gas-liquid chromatographic (GLC) method for monitoring T-2 and HT-2 toxins in plasma was developed. The procedure involved extraction of the toxins with ethyl acetate, chromatography on a C18 reversed-phase column and derivatization with heptafluorobutyric anhydride (HFBA). The T-2 and HT-2 HFBA derivatives were chromatographed on OV-17 at various temperatures and measured with an electron-capture detector. Iso-T-2 toxin and iso-HT-2 toxin were used as internal standards. Recoveries averaged 95.1 +/- 8.6% for T-2 toxin and 102.1 +/- 5.2% for HT-2 toxin at levels ranging from 40 to 120 ng/ml. The limits of detection were 30 and 5 ng/ml of T-2 and HT-2 toxin, respectively. The range of the assay covers plasma concentrations at which toxicity becomes manifest. The pharmacokinetic application of this GLC method is illustrated by simultaneous monitoring of T-2 and HT-2 toxins levels in plasma obtained after intravenous administration of T-2 toxin to a dog.     

Molecular design and biological potential of galacto-type trehalose as a nonnatural ligand of shiga toxins

Galacto-type trehalose, a "C-4 epimer of trehalose", possesses a stereochemical structure around the alpha(1-1)-linkage analogous to that of the globobiosyl alpha(1-4)-linkage in Gb(2) and Gb(3) ceramides, which are known as the ligands of Shiga toxins produced by pathogenic E. coli. This paper presents evidence supporting the new idea of using a trehalosyl alpha(1-1)-linkage as a substitute for the galactobiosyl alpha(1-4)-linkage.     

The development of a rapid method for the isolation of four azaspiracids for use as reference materials for quantitative LC–MS–MS methods

The azaspiracids are a family of lipophilic polyether marine biotoxins that have caused a number of human intoxication incidents in Europe since 1995 after consumption of contaminated shellfish (Mytilus edulis). Levels of azaspiracids in shellfish for human consumption are monitored in accordance with EU guidelines: only shellfish with less than 160 μg kg⁻¹ are deemed safe. The limited availability of commercially available standards for azaspiracids is a serious problem, because validated LC–MS methods are required for routine analysis of these toxins in shellfish tissues. The procedure described herein has been used for the separation and the isolation of four azaspiracid (AZA) toxins from shellfish, for use as LC–MS–MS reference materials. Five separation steps have been used to isolate azaspiracids 1, 2, 3, and 6. The purity of the toxins obtained has been confirmed by multiple mass spectrometric methods using authentic azaspiracid standards. The same techniques have been used for quantification of the toxins extracted. The isolation procedure involves several chromatographic purification techniques: solid-phase extraction (diol sorbent, 90% mass reduction, and 95 ± 1% toxin recovery); Sephadex size-exclusion chromatography (87% mass reduction and up to 95 ± 2% toxin recovery), Toyopearl HW size-exclusion chromatography (90% mass reduction and up to 92.5 ± 2.5% toxin recovery), and semi-preparative LC (78 ± 3% toxin recovery). The procedure effectively separates the toxins from the sample matrix and furnishes azaspiracid toxins (AZA1, AZA2, AZA3 and AZA6) of sufficient purity with an average yield of 65% (n = 5). Triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry was used for qualitative and quantitative monitoring of the isolation efficiency after each stage of the process. High-resolution mass spectrometric evaluation of the toxic isolated material in both positive and negative modes suggests high purity.     

Computer modeling of binding of diverse weak toxins to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Weak toxins are the "three-fingered" snake venoms toxins grouped together by having an additional disulfide in the N-terminal loop I. In general, weak toxins have low toxicity, and biological targets have been identified for some of them only, recently by detecting the effects on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). Here the methods of docking and molecular dynamics simulations are used for comparative modeling of the complexes between four weak toxins of known spatial structure (WTX, candoxin, bucandin, gamma-bungarotoxin) and nAChRs. WTX and candoxin are those toxins whose blocking of the neuronal alpha7- and muscle-type nAChR has been earlier shown in binding assays and electrophysiological experiments, while for the other two toxins no such activity has been reported. Only candoxin and WTX are found here to give stable solutions for the toxin-nAChR complexes. These toxins appear to approach the binding site similarly to short alpha-neurotoxins, but their final position resembles that of alpha-cobratoxin, a long alpha-neurotoxin, in the complex with the acetylcholine-binding protein. The final spatial structures of candoxin and WTX complexes with the alpha7 neuronal or muscle-type nAChR are very similar and do not provide immediate answer why candoxin has a much higher affinity than WTX, but both of them share a virtually irreversible mode of binding to one or both these nAChR subtypes. Possible explanation comes from docking and MD simulations which predict fast kinetics of candoxin association with nAChR, no gross changes in the toxin conformation (with smaller toxin flexibility on alpha7 nAChR), while slow WTX binding to nAChR is associated with slow irreversible rearrangement both of the tip of the toxin loop II and of the binding pocket residues locking finally the toxin molecule. Computer modeling showed that the additional disulfide in the loop I is not directly involved in receptor binding of WTX and candoxin, but it stabilizes the structure of loop I which plays an important role in toxin delivery to the binding site. In summary, computer modeling visualized possible modes of binding for those weak toxins which interact with the nAChR, provided no solutions for those weak toxins whose targets are not the nAChRs, and demonstrated that the additional disulfide in loop I cannot be a sound criteria for joining all weak toxins into one group; the conclusion about the diversity of weak toxins made from computer modeling is in accord with the earlier phylogenetic analysis.     

Liquid chromatography post-column oxidation (PCOX) method for the determination of paralytic shellfish toxins in mussels, clams, oysters, and scallops: collaborative study

Sixteen laboratories participated in a collaborative study to evaluate method performance parameters of a liquid chromatographic method of analysis for paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis), soft shell clams (Mya arenaria), sea scallops (Placopectin magellanicus), and American oysters (Crassostrea virginicus). The specific analogs tested included saxitoxin, neosaxitoxin, gonyautoxins-1 to -5, decarbamoyl-gonyautoxins-2 and -3, decarbamoyl-saxitoxin, and N-sulfocarbamoyl-gonyautoxin-2 and -3. This instrumental technique has been developed as a replacement for the current AOAC biological method (AOAC Official Method 959.08) and an alternative to the pre-column oxidation LC method (AOAC Official Method 2005.06). The method is based on reversed-phase liquid chromatography with post-column oxidation and fluorescence detection (excitation 330 nm and emission 390 nm). The shellfish samples used in the study were prepared from the edible tissues of clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops to contain concentrations of PST representative of low, medium, and high toxicities and with varying profiles of individual toxins. These concentrations are approximately equivalent to 1/2 maximum level (ML), ML, or 2xML established by regulatory authorities (0.40, 0.80, and 1.60 mg STX diHCl eq/kg, respectively). Recovery for the individual toxins ranged from 104 to 127%, and recovery of total toxin averaged 116%. Horwitz Ratio (HorRat) values for individual toxins in the materials included in the study were generally within the desired range of 0.3 to 2.0. For the estimation of total toxicity in the test materials, the reproducibility relative standard deviation ranged from 4.6 to 20%. A bridging study comparing the results from the study participants using the post-column oxidation (PCOX) method with the results obtained in the study director's laboratory on the same test materials using the accepted reference method, the mouse bioassay (MBA; AOAC Official Method 959.08), showed that the average ratio of results obtained from the two methods was 1.0. A good match of values was also achieved with a new certified reference material. The results from this study demonstrated that the PCOX method is a suitable method of analysis for PST in shellfish tissue and provides both an estimate of total toxicity, equivalent to that determined using the MBAAOAC Official Method 959.08, and a detailed profile of the individual toxin present in the sample.     

Chemical Synthesis, 3D Structure,and ASIC Binding Site of the Toxin Mambalgin‐2

Mambalgins are a novel class of snake venom components that exert potent analgesic effects mediated through the inhibition of acid‐sensing ion channels (ASICs). The 57‐residue polypeptide mambalgin‐2 (Ma‐2) was synthesized by using a combination of solid‐phase peptide synthesis and native chemical ligation. The structure of the synthetic toxin, determined using homonuclear NMR, revealed an unusual three‐finger toxin fold reminiscent of functionally unrelated snake toxins. Electrophysiological analysis of Ma‐2 on wild‐type and mutant ASIC1a receptors allowed us to identify α‐helix 5, which borders on the functionally critical acidic pocket of the channel, as a major part of the Ma‐2 binding site. This region is also crucial for the interaction of ASIC1a with the spider toxin PcTx1, thus suggesting that the binding sites for these toxins substantially overlap. This work lays the foundation for structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies and further development of this promising analgesic peptide.