Botulinum toxin

Botulinum neurotoxin A
Ribbon diagram of tertiary structure of BotA (P0DPI1). PDB entry 3BTA.
Clinical data
Trade namesBotox, Myobloc, Jeuveau, Dysport, Letybo, and others
Other namesBoNT, botox
BiosimilarsabobotulinumtoxinA, daxibotulinumtoxinA, daxibotulinumtoxinA-lanm, evabotulinumtoxinA, incobotulinumtoxinA, letibotulinumtoxinA, letibotulinumtoxinA-wlbg, onabotulinumtoxinA, prabotulinumtoxinA, relabotulinumtoxinA, rimabotulinumtoxinB
AHFS/Drugs.com
MedlinePlusa619021
License data
Pregnancy
category
  • AU: B3
Routes of
administration		Intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
Identifiers
CAS Number
DrugBank
ChemSpider
  • Botulinum toxin A: none
UNII
KEGG
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC6760H10447N1743O2010S32
Molar mass149323.05 g·mol−1
 X markNcheckY (what is this?)  (verify)
Bontoxilysin
Identifiers
EC no.3.4.24.69
Databases
BRENDAenzyme data
ExPASyNiceZyme view
KEGGenzyme entry
MetaCycmetabolic pathway
Rheareactions
PDB structuresRCSB PDB PDBe PDBsum
Gene OntologyAmiGO / QuickGO
Search
PMCarticles
PubMedarticles
NCBIproteins

Botulinum toxin, botulinum neurotoxin, or botox is a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum and related species, and it is considered the deadliest known natural substance ever recorded in chemical literature. It prevents the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from axon endings at the neuromuscular junction, thus causing flaccid paralysis. The toxin causes the disease botulism. Botulinum toxin is an acetylcholine release inhibitor and a neuromuscular blocking agent. Botulinum toxin was developed as a biological agent by the Soviet, United States, and Iraqi biological weapons programs. In strongly diluted form, the toxin is also used for medical and cosmetic purposes.

The seven main types of botulinum toxin are named types A to G (A, B, C1, C2, D, E, F and G). New types are occasionally found. Types A and B are capable of causing disease in humans, and are also used commercially and medically. Types C–G are less common.

In 2025, the structure of the complete 14 subunit botulinum neurotoxin complex (L-PTC) was solved.

Structure of the complete 14-subunit botulinum neurotoxin B complex (L-PTC)
The toxin complex (L-PTC) with its 14 components. The toxin itself is colored pink and sits at the top of the complex. The structure consists of tens of thousands of atoms, and here only the surface of the complex is shown.

Intoxication can occur naturally as a result of either wound or intestinal infection or by ingesting formed toxin in food. The estimated human median lethal dose of type A toxin is 1.3–2.1 ng/kg intravenously or intramuscularly, 10–13 ng/kg when inhaled, or 1 μg/kg when taken by mouth.

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