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Torpedo electric organ has been used to study the binding of botulinum neurotoxin type A to pure cholinergic synaptosomes and presynaptic plasma membrane. 125I-labeled botulinum neurotoxin type A exhibits specific binding to cholinergic fractions. Two binding sites have been determined according to data analysis: a high affinity binding site (synaptosomes: Kd = 0.11 +/- 0.03 nM, Bmax = 50 +/- 10 fmol.mg prot-1; presynaptic plasma membrane: Kd = 0.2 +/- 0.05 nM, Bmax = 150 +/- 15 fmol.mg prot-1) and a low affinity binding site (synaptosomes: Kd approximately 26 nM, Bmax approximately 7.5 pmol.mg prot-1; presynaptic plasma membrane: Kd approximately 30 nM, Bmax approximately 52 pmol.mg prot-1). The binding of 125I-botulinum neurotoxin type A is decreased by previous treatment of synaptosomes by neuraminidase and trypsin, and by a preincubation with bovine brain gangliosides or antiserum raised against Torpedo presynaptic plasma membrane. When presynaptic plasma membranes are blotted to nitrocellulose sheet, either 125I-botulinum neurotoxin or botulinum toxin-gold complexes bind to a M(r) approximately 140,000 protein. Botulinum toxin-gold complexes have also been used to study the toxin internalization process into Torpedo synaptosomes. The images fit the three step sequence model in the pathway of botulinum neurotoxin poisoning.

We have studied the correlation between [3H]ouabain binding sites, (Na+ + K+)ATPase (EC 3.6.1.3) activity and acetylcholine (ACh) release in different subcellular fractions of Torpedo marmorata electric organ (homogenate, synaptosomes, presynaptic plasma membranes). Presynaptic plasma membranes contained the greater number of [3H]ouabain binding sites, in good agreement with the high (Na+ + K+)ATPase activity found in this fraction. Blockade of this enzymatic activity by ouabain dose-dependently induced ACh release from pure cholinergic synaptosomes, either in the presence or absence of extracellular calcium ions. We suggest that one of the mechanisms involved in the ouabain-induced ACh release in the absence of Ca2+o may be an increase in Na+i that could (a) evoke Ca2+ release from internal stores and (b) inhibit ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake by synaptic vesicles.

Pure cholinergic synaptosomes isolated from the electric organ of Torpedo marmorata were stimulated by calcium ionophore A-23187. The effect of time course of stimulation on the changes in intramembrane particles (IMPs) on presynaptic membranes was studied by quick-freezing and aldehyde-fixation freeze-fracture. We showed that the decrease of small-particle density at the P-face and the increase of large-particle density at the E-face was maximum after 30 sec of A-23187 stimulation. Later, the density of synaptic vesicles decreased. We suggest that the redistribution of IMPs on the presynaptic membrane and acetylcholine (ACh) release from pure cholinergic synaptosomes have a similar time course when triggered by A-23187.