a chemical conjugate of the neuropeptide substance P
and the catalytic A subunit of cholera toxin

(molecular weight 30 kDa)

Targeted toxins are powerful and specific lesioning agents used in the technique known as Molecular Neurosurgery. As an alternative, the ability to stimulate neurons selectively can be just as powerful a tool. The catalytic A subunit of cholera toxin (CTA) is bound to a targeting agent (antibody, growth factor, peptide, ligand, cytokine). The targeted conjugate is administered to the cells (in vitro or in vivo). The targeting agent seeks out and binds to its target on the cell surface. The conjugate is internalized, CTA breaks away from the targeting agent, and activates the cAMP pathway within the cells by ribosylating adenylate cyclase. Cells which do not have the cell surface marker are not affected.

Elimination of Specific Cell Type