The effect of transfection with Botulinum neurotoxin C1 light chain on exocytosis measured in cell populations and by single-cell amperometry in PC12 cells

 We examined the effect on exocytosis in PC12 neuroendocrine cells of transient transfection with the specific endoprotease Botulinum neurotoxin C1 light chain (BoNT/C1), which cleaves syntaxin and SNAP-25. The effects of toxin expression on basal and evoked exocytosis were determined in cell population measurements and also in a single-cell transfection-amperometry assay. Co-expression of BoNT/C1 with human growth hormone (hGH) as a marker of secretory granules in transfected cells resulted in a 95% inhibition of hGH release evoked either by the purinergic agonist ATP or by depolarization with 55 mM K⁺. In addition, basal hGH release was also inhibited to the same extent. The high level of co-transfection efficiency revealed by this extent of inhibition was exploited in a high-resolution single-cell assay based on cell detection by expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and analysis of evoked dopamine release by amperometry using a carbon fibre microelectrode. Cells expressing EGFP alone showed population responses and single-cell amperometric responses indistinguishable from those of control non-transfected cells. In contrast, co-expression of BoNT/C1 with EGFP resulted in an almost complete inhibition of current transients due to exocytosis evoked by ATP. These results establish and validate a single-cell assay of transfection-amperometry for analysing the effects of specific proteins on exocytosis. Received: 12 November 1998 / Received after revision: 8 December 1998 / Accepted: 9 December 1998