Light Chain LC and TAT-EGFP-HCS of Botulinum Toxin Expression and Biological Function in vitro and in vivo

Objective: To verify whether the botulinum toxin heavy chain HCS has specific neuronal targeting function and to confirm whether TAT-EGFP-LC has hydrolyzable SNAP-25 and has transmembrane biological activity. Methods: We constructed the pET-28a-TAT-EGFP-HCS/LC plasmid. After the plasmid is expressed and purified, we co-cultured it with nerve cells or tumors. In addition, we used Western-Blot to identify whether protein LC and TAT-EGFP-LC can digest the protein SNAP-25. Results: Fluorescence imaging showed that PC12, BV2, C6 and HeLa cells all showed green fluorescence, and TAT-EGFP-HCS had the strongest fluorescence. Moreover, TAT-EGFP-LC can hydrolyze intracellular SNAP-25 in PC12 cells, C6 cells, BV2 cells and HeLa, whereas LC alone cannot. In addition, the in vivo protein TAT-EGFP-HCS can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and enter mouse brain tissue. Conclusion: TAT-EGFP-HSC expressed in vitro has neural guidance function and can carry large proteins across the cell membrane without influencing the biological activity.