This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Simpson, L. L. Articles by Morimoto, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Simpson, L. L. Articles by Morimoto, H.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

J Bacteriol. 1969 February; 97(2): 571-575
Copyright © 1969 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Failure to Inhibit In Vitro or In Vivo Acetycholinesterase with Botulinum Toxin Type A

Laboratory of Chemical Biodynamics, Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94707

ABSTRACT

An attempt has been made to replicate an earlier finding that type A botulinum toxin can inhibit the in vitro activity of acetylcholinesterase. Two methods of enzyme assay were employed, but with neither technique were we able to reproduce the finding of in vitro enzyme inhibition. In fact, an examination of the data from the previous report leads us to question the possibility of the observations that were given. Furthermore, an investigation was carried out to determine if botulinum toxin can exert an inhibiting effect on acetylcholinesterase that is situated in the biological tissue. The answer again is negative. The experimental observations, coupled with several mathematical computations, do not support the notion that botulinum toxin is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor.