Clostridial Neurotoxins

This book describes all biological and biomedical aspects of the action of neurotoxins responsible for the neuroparalytic syndromes of tetanus and botulism. Recently, new fundamental information on the molecular mechanism of action of these neurotoxins has emerged. In particular, clostridial neurotoxins were found to be a new group of zincendopeptidases blocking exocytosis by the very specific cleavage of three protein components of the exocytosis apparatus.

This property is described in detail in the book together with other information that will enable the reader to appropriately use these toxins in the study of cell processes involving their three protein targets. These toxins are already used and will be increasingly used in the future as powerful tools in cell biology, in neuroscience and in therapy of dystonias and strabismus.