Abstract: The present invention provides a preparation of botulinum toxin light chain type A or E, wherein the preparation is both catalytically active and soluble. Preferably, the preparation consists essentially of amino acid residues 1 through 425 of the botulinum toxin light chain type A. A method of screening inhibitors is also provided, wherein the method comprises exposing a test inhibitor to the preparation of botulinum toxin light chain type A and evaluating the biological activity of the preparation. In another embodiment, a method of providing a catalytically active, soluble preparation of botulinum toxin light chain, type A is provided, wherein the method comprises obtaining an expression vector comprising a DNA sequence encoding amino acid residues 1-425 and expressing a polypeptide.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 14, 2006
Date of Patent:
December 16, 2008
Assignees:
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, The MCW Research Foundation, Incorporated
Inventors:
Eric A. Johnson, Marite Bradshaw, Michael Baldwin, Joseph T. Barbieri