Chemicals and Drugs

Botulinum Toxins

Toxic proteins produced from the species CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUM. The toxins are synthesized as a single peptide chain which is processed into a mature protein consisting of a heavy chain and light chain joined via a disulfide bond. The botulinum toxin light chain is a zinc-dependent protease which is released from the heavy chain upon ENDOCYTOSIS into PRESYNAPTIC NERVE ENDINGS. Once inside the cell the botulinum toxin light chain cleaves specific SNARE proteins which are essential for secretion of ACETYLCHOLINE by SYNAPTIC VESICLES. This inhibition of acetylcholine release results in muscular PARALYSIS.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Toxic proteins produced from the species CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUM. The toxins are synthesized as a single peptide chain which is processed into a mature protein consisting of a heavy chain and light chain joined via a disulfide bond. The botulinum toxin light chain is a zinc-dependent protease which is released from the heavy chain upon ENDOCYTOSIS into PRESYNAPTIC NERVE ENDINGS. Once inside the cell the botulinum toxin light chain cleaves specific SNARE proteins which are essential for secretion of ACETYLCHOLINE by SYNAPTIC VESICLES. This inhibition of acetylcholine release results in muscular PARALYSIS.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

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Drug Class

Pharmacological Action

MeSH Record

See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

10 entry terms
  • Botulin
  • Botulinum Neurotoxin
  • Botulinum Neurotoxins
  • Botulinum Toxin
  • Clostridium botulinum Toxins
  • Neurotoxin, Botulinum
  • Neurotoxins, Botulinum
  • Toxin, Botulinum
  • Toxins, Botulinum
  • Toxins, Clostridium botulinum

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

29 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, drug effects, economics, genetics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, physiology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, ultrastructure, urine.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

/antag permitted but consider also BOTULINUM ANTITOXIN

MeSH Record

History Note

78; was BOTULINUM TOXIN 1969-77 (Prov 1969-71)

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Clostridium Botulinum (1966-1968)
  • Toxins (1966-1968)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. D08.811w.277w.656w.300w.480w.153w
  2. D08.811w.277w.656w.675w.374w.153w
  3. D12.776w.097.156w
  4. D23.946w.123.179w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Botulinum Toxins. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D001905. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D001905
  2. Botulinum Toxins. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botulinum_toxin
  3. Botulinum Toxins. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q208413