Genome-wide CRISPR screening identified hemojuvelin as a non-neuronal receptor for the botulinum neurotoxin serotypes A and C.

Hemojuvelin acts as a non-neuronal receptor for botulinum neurotoxins A and C, reducing toxin sensitivity by over 50% in mice.

• Why it matters: Understanding how botulinum neurotoxins specifically accumulate at neuromuscular junctions is crucial for developing better treatments and improving clinical use, yet this mechanism remains unclear.
• What they did: A genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screen identified HJV as a key muscle membrane protein that directly interacts with BoNT/A and C, with knockout experiments confirming its role in toxin binding and sensitivity.
• The result: HJV's involvement in toxin capture on muscle surfaces advances knowledge of toxin entry pathways, enabling targeted therapies for botulinum intoxication and enhancing the safety and efficacy of botulinum-based treatments.