Clostridium botulinum neurotoxins are zinc-dependent proteases that block the release of acetylcholine from peripheral cholinergic nerve endings by targeting specific membrane proteins including synaptosomal-associated proteins (SNAP), vesicle-associated membrane proteins (VAMP), and syntaxins. Neurotoxin A is characteristically associated with human botulism and known to target and hydrolyse the 197-Gln-|-Arg-198 bond of SNAP-25.
