Tetanus toxin

Tetanus toxin is also known as tetanospasmin. It is a 150-kDa protein, produced by Clostridium tetani. This protein consists of a light and a heavy chain.

Tetanus toxin from Clostridium tetani has been used as the exocytosis inhibitor/Golgi-dependent secretion to examine whether secretory carrier membrane protein (SCAMP5) stimulated α-synuclein secretion via the conventional Golgi-dependent pathway. It has also been used in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) culture for T cell proliferation screening.

Tetanus toxin from Clostridium tetani has been used to inhibit vesicular release in Pannexin 1-transfected Neuro2A cells¹.

Tetanus toxin can cause spastic paralysis.

Binds to polysialogangliosides acceptors on surface of all peripheral presynaptic nerve terminals. Internalized by receptor-mediated endocytosis and carried to spinal cord and brain by transsynaptic retrograde transport. Blocks the release of glycine from inhibitory interneurons of the spinal cord. Cleaves synaptobrevin (VAMP-2), and blocks synaptic vesicle exocytosis in vivo.

Binds to polysialogangliosides acceptors on surface of all peripheral presynaptic nerve terminals; blocks the release of glycine from inhibitory interneurons of the spinal cord; cleaves synaptobrevin (VAMP-2); blocks synaptic vesicle exocytosis in vivo.

Purified from cultures of Clostridium tetani by a modification of the method of Robinson, et al.

Each vial, when reconstituted with 100 μL of sterile purified water, contains 25 μg of tetanus toxin in 20 mM HEPES, pH 7.4 with 1.25% lactose.

Two bands by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions (100 kDa heavy chain and 50 kDa light chain).