Abstract
Botulinum Neurotoxin (BoNT) is one of the most potent toxins known to human kind. The Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) was employed to investigate the conditions under which BoNT type A heavy chain would bind and/or insert into mica supported dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) lipid bilayers. As an alternate technique, DPPC/GT1b or total ganglioside extract (80:20) monolayers of a Langmuir Blodgett (LB) Trough were adapted to be artificial membrane models for toxin insertion studies. We conclude that LB monolayer studies are a promising candidate for BoNT/A membrane insertion investigation. Botulinum neurotoxin serotype A insertions into the LB monolayers in the presence of BoNT/A low affinity ganglioside receptor alone, independent of pH. This thermodynamic evidence indicates that BoNT/A may begin its heavy chain insertion into the cholinergic nerve ending before endocytosis and acidification.
Degree
MS
College and Department
Life Sciences; Physiology and Developmental Biology
Rights
http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Strongin, Bradley Adam, "Thermodynamic Evidence That Ganglioside-Mediated Insertion Of Botulinum A Into The Cholinergic Nerve Ending May Precede Endocytosis And Acidification: A Langmuir Film Study" (2007). Theses and Dissertations. 1273.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/1273
Date Submitted
2007-12-14
Document Type
Thesis
Handle
http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etd2249
Keywords
Botulinum Neurotoxin Serotype A, Atomic Force Microscopy, Langmuir Blodgett
Language
English