RECOMBINANT COLSTRIDIUM NEUROTOXIN FRAGMENTS

摘要

A single polypeptide is provided which comprises first and second domains. T he first domain enables the polypeptide to cleave one or more vesicle or plasma - membrane associated proteins essential to exocytosis, and the second domain enables the polypeptide to be translocated into a target cell or increases t he solubility of the polypeptide, or both. The polypeptide thus combines useful properties of a clostridial toxin, such as a botulinum or tetanus toxin, without the toxicity associated with the natural molecule. The polypeptide c an also contain a third domain that targets it to a specific cell, rendering th e polypeptide useful in inhibition of exocytosis in target cells. Fusion proteins comprising the polypeptide, nucleic acids encoding the polypeptide and methods of making the polypeptide are also provided. Controlled activati on of the polypeptide, is possible and the polypeptide can be incorporated into vaccines and toxin assays.