Toxin Binder Research Articles

The Binding Site of the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor in Animal Species Resistant to .alpha.-Bungarotoxin

The ligand binding site of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) is located in the alpha-subunit, within a small fragment containing the tandem cysteines at positions 192 and 193. We have been analyzing the binding site domain of AChRs from several animal species exhibiting various degrees of resistance to alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BTX). Our earlier work on the snake and mongoose AChR, both of which do not bind alpha-BTX, suggested that amino acid substitutions at positions 187, 189, and 194 of the AChR alpha-subunit are important in determining the resistance of these AChRs to alpha-BTX. In the present study, we have examined the correlation between alpha-BTX binding and the structure of the binding site domain of AChR from the hedgehog, shrew, cat, and human. Fragments of the AChR alpha-subunit corresponding to residues 122-205 from these species were cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli. The hedgehog fragment does not bind alpha-BTX, in common with the snake and mongoose AChR, and the human fragment is a partial binder. The shrew and cat fragments bind alpha-BTX to a similar extent as the mouse fragment. The hedgehog and human AChRs have nonaromatic amino acid residues at positions 187 and 189 of the alpha-subunit, as is seen with the "toxin resistant" snake and mongoose, and in contrast with the "toxin binders", which have aromatic residues at these two positions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Solid-phase radioimmunoassay method for determination of Escherichia coli enterotoxin.

The development of a solid-phase radioimmunoassay procedure for the determination of Escherichia coli enterotoxin(s) is described. Radioiodinated E. coli enterotoxin with about three radioiodine atoms per toxin molecule is, by the criterion of electrophoresis, identical to the unlabeled toxin. Goat anti-E. coli-enterotoxin antibody was coupled to polystyrene tubes and served as a solified toxin binder in the reported procedure. Various conditions necessary for the optimization and standardization of the solid-phase method were established. With the help of this technique it was possible to determine E. coli enterotoxin released from a porcine E. coli strain into culture medium.