Detection of neutral sugars in purified type G botulinum progenitor toxin and the effects of some glycolytic enzymes on its molecular dissociation and oral toxicity.

Arabinose and galactose were detected in purified type G botulinum toxin (Mr about 500,000) of Clostridium argentinense. The i.p. LD50/mg N of type G progenitor toxin was one-tenth, but the oral LD50/mg N twice that of type A-L toxin. The lysozyme-, endo-beta-galactosidase-, and N-glucanase-treated toxins each had a molecular mass of about 300,000. The oral toxicity of the endo-beta-galactosidase or N-glucanase-treated toxin was one-fifth that of untreated progenitor toxin. On DEAE-Sephadex chromatography, the N-glucanase-treated toxin dissociated into two fractions, nontoxic and toxic. SDS-PAGE of the toxic fraction showed a single band with a Mr of about 150,000, and after dithiothreitol treatment, two bands with Mr of 100,000 and 50,000.