Botulinum neurotoxin A receptor and the use thereof

1. An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from (i) amino acids 529-562 of rat SV2C (SEQ ID NO:6), (ii) amino acids 529-562 of human SV2C (SEQ ID NO:18), (iii) amino acids 486 to 519 of rat SV2B (SEQ ID NO:4), (iv) amino acids 486 to 519 of mouse SV2B (SEQ ID NO:10), (v) amino acids 486 to 519 of human SV2B (SEQ ID NO:16), (vi) amino acids 543 to 576 of rat SV2A (SEQ ID NO:2), (vii) amino acids 454-546 of rat SV2C (SEQ ID NO:6), (viii) amino acids 454-546 of human SV2C (SEQ ID NO:18), (ix) amino acids 411 to 503 of rat SV2B (SEQ ID NO:4), (x) amino acids 411 to 503 of human SV2B (SEQ ID NO:16), (xi) amino acids 468 to 560 of rat SV2A (SEQ ID NO:2), (xii) amino acids 468 to 560 of human SV2A (SEQ ID NO:14), and (xiii) an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to (iii), (iv), (v), (ix), or (x) and is capable of binding to botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A), with the proviso that a polypeptide comprising a full length SV2 protein, a polypeptide consisting of an SV2 luminal domain, and a polypeptide comprising an SV2 luminal domain wherein the domain is flanked at one or both ends by a non-native flanking amino acid sequence are excluded.

2. The isolated polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide is soluble in an aqueous solvent.

3. The isolated polypeptide of claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide has no more than 128 amino acids.

4. An isolated polypeptide consisting of an amino acid sequence selected from (i) amino acids 529-562 of rat SV2C (SEQ ID NO:6), (ii) amino acids 529-562 of mouse SV2C (SEQ ID NO:12), (iii) amino acids 529-562 of human SV2C (SEQ ID NO:18), (iv) amino acids 486 to 519 of rat SV2B (SEQ ID NO:4), (v) amino acids 486 to 519 of mouse SV2B (SEQ ID NO:10), (vi) amino acids 486 to 519 of human SV2B (SEQ ID NO:16), (vii) amino acids 543 to 576 of rat SV2A (SEQ ID NO:2), (viii) amino acids 543 to 576 of human SV2A (SEQ ID NO:14), (ix) amino acids 529-566 of rat SV2C (SEQ ID NO:6), (x) amino acids 529-566 of mouse SV2C (SEQ ID NO:12), (xi) amino acids 529-566 of human SV2C (SEQ ID NO:18), (xii) amino acids 486 to 523 of rat SV2B (SEQ ID NO:4), (xiii) amino acids 486 to 523 of mouse SV2B (SEQ ID NO:10), (xiv) amino acids 486 to 523 of human SV2B (SEQ ID NO:16), (xv) amino acids 543 to 580 of rat SV2A (SEQ ID NO:2), (xvi) amino acids 543 to 580 of human SV2A (SEQ ID NO:14), (xvii) amino acids 454-546 of rat SV2C (SEQ ID NO:6), (xviii) amino acids 454-546 of mouse SV2C (SEQ ID NO:12), (xix) amino acids 454-546 of human SV2C (SEQ ID NO:18), (xx) amino acids 411 to 503 of rat SV2B (SEQ ID NO:4), (xxi) amino acids 411 to 503 of human SV2B (SEQ ID NO:16), (xxii) amino acids 468 to 560 of rat SV2A (SEQ ID NO:2), (xxiii) amino acids 468 to 560 of human SV2A (SEQ ID NO:14), and (xxiv) an amino acid sequence that is at least 95% identical to (iv), (v), (vi), (xii), (xiii), (xiv), (xx), or (xxi) and is capable of binding to botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A).

5. A method for identifying an agent that can block binding between BoNT/A and an SV2 protein, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring binding between BoNT/A and a polypeptide that comprises the polypeptide of claim 1 in the presence of a test agent; and

comparing the binding to that of a control measured under the same conditions but in the absence of the test agent, wherein a lower than control binding indicates that the agent can block binding between BoNT/A and the SV2 protein.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein all steps are performed in vitro.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the polypeptide is provided on a cell surface and the cell is exposed to the test agent.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the binding between BoNT/A and the polypeptide is measured indirectly by monitoring the entry of BoNT/A into the cell.

9. A method for identifying an agent that can bind to a BoNT/A-binding sequence of an SV2 protein, the method comprising the steps of:

exposing a polypeptide that comprises the polypeptide of claim 1 to a test agent; and

determining whether the agent binds to the polypeptide.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein all steps are carried out in vitro.

11. The method of claim 9 , where the polypeptide is provided and exposed to a test agent in a cell.

12. A method for detecting BoNT/A or Clostridium botulinum comprising the steps of:

exposing a sample suspected of containing BoNT/A to a polypeptide that comprises the polypeptide of claim 1 ;

optionally, exposing the sample to a ganglioside; and

detecting binding of the polypeptide to BoNT/A.