Botulinum neurotoxins inhibit regulated exocytosis in many abstract cell types other than neurons

The botulinum neurotoxins are seven structurally similar, zinc-dependent pr oteases produced by the organism Clostridium botulinum. These neurotoxins b lock the release of acetylcholine in vivo, inhibiting exocytosis by cleavin g proteins involved in a SNARE-dependent(1) mechanism of regulated exocytos is. The work which defined the mechanism of action of the botulinum neuroto xins also helped define the roles of SNARE proteins in exocytosis. Now the botulinum neurotoxins are being used to study the requirement of SNARE prot eins for exocytosis and vesicular trafficking in a wide range of non-neuron al cell types.