J. Cell Biol. 189: 691-700 (2010)

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is produced as large protein complexes through associations with nontoxic components. We found that botulinum HA (Hemagglutinin), one of the nontoxic components, directly binds E-cadherin and disrupts E-cadherin mediated cell to cell adhesion, and in turn disrupts tight junction in epithelial cells.