Cholera Toxin Subunit B (Recombinant) Conjugate
Invitrogen™

Cholera Toxin Subunit B (Recombinant) Conjugate

Recombinant cholera toxin B subunit (CT-B) conjugates bind with high affinity to GM1 ganglioside and support neuronal tracing, GM1 labeling, membrane trafficking, and membrane organization studies. Choose from Alexa Fluor™ 488, 555, 594, and 647 fluorescent conjugates, Biotin-XX, or horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to match your detection workflow.
Have Questions?
Change viewbuttonViewtableView
Catalog NumberConjugateQuantity
C34779Biotin100 μg
C22841Alexa Fluor 488500 μg
C34776Alexa Fluor 555100 μg
C22843Alexa Fluor 555500 μg
C34777Alexa Fluor 594100 μg
C22842Alexa Fluor 594500 μg
C34778Alexa Fluor 647100 μg
C34780
also known as C-34780
HRP (Horseradish Peroxidase)100 μg
Catalog number C34779
Price (USD)
358.00
Each
Conjugate:
Biotin
Quantity:
100 μg
Price (USD)
358.00
Each

Recombinant cholera toxin B conjugates for GM1 labeling and neuronal tracing

Cholera toxin B subunit (CT-B) binds with high affinity to GM1 ganglioside on the cell surface and is widely used for neuronal tracing, GM1 labeling, endocytosis, and membrane trafficking studies. At neutral pH, CT-B forms a pentamer with multiple GM1-binding sites, enabling multivalent interactions with GM1-containing membranes.

These conjugates are made using recombinant cholera toxin B subunit without the enzymatically active A subunit of native cholera toxin.

Why use recombinant cholera toxin B conjugates?

  • Label GM1 ganglioside: Use the high-affinity interaction between CT-B and GM1 to visualize and detect GM1-associated membrane structures.
  • Trace neuronal projections: Use CT-B for well-established retrograde labeling of neuronal pathways.
  • Study membrane trafficking: Follow CT-B/GM1 internalization and retrograde trafficking through endosomal pathways.
  • Investigate membrane organization: Label GM1 and examine GM1-associated membrane domains in lipid raft-related studies.
  • Use recombinant B subunit: Study GM1 binding and trafficking with CT-B lacking the enzymatically active A subunit of native cholera toxin.
  • Choose multiple detection formats: Select fluorescent Alexa Fluor™ conjugates, Biotin-XX, or HRP to match fluorescence, affinity-based, or enzyme-based detection workflows.

Choose a CT-B conjugate for your detection workflow

Select from Alexa Fluor™ 488, 555, 594, and 647 CT-B conjugates for fluorescence imaging, Biotin-XX for avidin- or streptavidin-based detection, or HRP for enzyme-based detection.

Why choose from multiple conjugates?

  • Match your imaging system: Select an Alexa Fluor™ conjugate compatible with available excitation sources, emission filters, and detectors.
  • Support multicolor imaging: Choose spectrally distinct Alexa Fluor™ dyes for use with other fluorescent probes, antibodies, and cellular markers.
  • Enable affinity-based detection: Use Biotin-XX conjugates with avidin- or streptavidin-based detection workflows.
  • Enable enzyme-based detection: Use HRP conjugates for chromogenic or chemiluminescent detection workflows.
  • Use one GM1-binding probe across workflows: Apply recombinant CT-B with different labels while maintaining the same GM1-binding biological probe.

Applications of cholera toxin B conjugates

Cholera toxin B conjugates are versatile probes for neuronal tracing, GM1 ganglioside labeling, endocytosis, and membrane trafficking studies.

Use CT-B conjugates to:

  • Perform neuronal tracing, including widely used retrograde labeling of neuronal projections
  • Label GM1 ganglioside on cell membranes
  • Visualize GM1-associated membrane domains in lipid raft-related studies
  • Study CT-B/GM1 internalization and retrograde trafficking through endosomal pathways
  • Perform fluorescence imaging with Alexa Fluor™ 488, 555, 594, or 647 conjugates
  • Perform avidin- or streptavidin-based detection with Biotin-XX conjugates
  • Perform enzyme-based detection with HRP conjugates

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.
Specifications
Label TypeBiotin & Other Haptens
Protein FormRecombinant
Protein SubtypeCholera Toxin
Quantity100 μg
Shipping ConditionRoom Temperature
ConjugateBiotin
FormLyophilized
RecombinantRecombinant
Unit SizeEach
Contents & Storage
Store in freezer (-5 to -30°C).

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

I injected a fluorescent tracer, but cannot detect it after tissue is fixed and sectioned. What am I doing wrong?

Confirm that the tracer you are using crosslinks to proteins or has a primary amine for fixation-either a hydrazide, lysine fixable dextran, or a protein conjugate.
Use aldehyde-based fixatives to cross link the amines on the tracer.
Inject a larger amount or higher concentration of the tracer. Tracers are generally injected at 1-20% concentrations (10 mg/mL or higher).
Confirm that you are using the correct fluorescent filter for detection. You can perform a spot test by pipetting a small amount of the undiluted stock solution of the tracer onto a slide, then view under the filter you are using on your microscope. This will confirm if the tracer fluorescence can be detected and the fluorescent microscope filter is working properly.
Review tissue fixation and handling procedures to confirm if any reagents or processing procedures could be affecting the tracer.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Analysis Support Center.

Do you have a tracer that will only transport retrograde?

Wheat germ agglutinin and cholera toxin conjugates have been used for retrograde tracing. They may have some anterograde tracing in some applications. A selection guide can be found here (https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/cell-analysis/cell-tracing-tracking-and-morphology/neuronal-tracing/protein-conjugates.html).

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Analysis Support Center.

How do I know which tracer to choose for my experiment?

Factors to consider are size of tracer, method of delivery (injection, direct application to tissue, etc.), and if the tracer needs to be fixable. Here are some links to details about the various classes of neuronal tracers we offer and how to choose between them:

Neuronal Tracing (https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/cell-analysis/cell-tracing-tracking-and-morphology/neuronal-tracing.html)
Choosing a Tracer (https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/references/molecular-probes-the-handbook/fluorescent-tracers-of-cell-morphology-and-fluid-flow/choosing-a-tracer.html)
Imaging Analysis (http://assets.thermofisher.com/TFS-Assets/BID/Reference-Materials/bioprobes-50-journal.pdf)

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Analysis Support Center.

What products do you have for neuronal tracing?

Please check out this web page (https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/cell-analysis/cell-tracing-tracking-and-morphology/neuronal-tracing.html) for details.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Analysis Support Center.

Citations & References (15)

Citations & References
Abstract
Single molecule analysis of serotonin transporter regulation using antagonist-conjugated quantum dots reveals restricted, p38 MAPK-dependent mobilization underlying uptake activation.
Authors:Chang JC, Tomlinson ID, Warnement MR, Ustione A, Carneiro AM, Piston DW, Blakely RD, Rosenthal SJ,
Journal:J Neurosci
PubMed ID:22745492
'The presynaptic serotonin (5-HT) transporter (SERT) is targeted by widely prescribed antidepressant medications. Altered SERT expression or regulation has been implicated in multiple neuropsychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depression and autism. Here, we implement a generalizable strategy that exploits antagonist-conjugated quantum dots (Qdots) to monitor, for the first time, single SERT ... More
The formation of acetylcholine receptor clusters visualized with quantum dots.
Authors:Geng L, Zhang HL, Peng HB,
Journal:BMC Neurosci
PubMed ID:19604411
BACKGROUND: Motor innervation of skeletal muscle leads to the assembly of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clusters in the postsynaptic membrane at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Synaptic AChR aggregation, according to the diffusion-mediated trapping hypothesis, involves the establishment of a postsynaptic scaffold that  ... More
Co-localization of amyloid beta and tau pathology in Alzheimer's disease synaptosomes.
Authors:Fein JA, Sokolow S, Miller CA, Vinters HV, Yang F, Cole GM, Gylys KH,
Journal:Am J Pathol
PubMed ID:18467692
The amyloid cascade hypothesis proposes that amyloid beta (Abeta) pathology precedes and induces tau pathology, but the neuropathological connection between these two lesions has not been demonstrated. We examined the regional distribution and co-localization of Abeta and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) in synaptic terminals of Alzheimer's disease brains. To quantitatively examine ... More
A proposal for a coordinated effort for the determination of brainwide neuroanatomical connectivity in model organisms at a mesoscopic scale.
Authors:Bohland JW, Wu C, Barbas H, Bokil H, Bota M, Breiter HC, Cline HT, Doyle JC, Freed PJ, Greenspan RJ, Haber SN, Hawrylycz M, Herrera DG, Hilgetag CC, Huang ZJ, Jones A, Jones EG, Karten HJ, Kleinfeld D, Kötter R, Lester HA, Lin JM, Mensh BD, Mikula S, Panksepp J, Price JL, Safdieh J, Saper CB, Schiff ND, Schmahmann JD, Stillman BW, Svoboda K, Swanson LW, Toga AW, Van Essen DC, Watson JD, Mitra PP,
Journal:PLoS Comput Biol
PubMed ID:19325892
In this era of complete genomes, our knowledge of neuroanatomical circuitry remains surprisingly sparse. Such knowledge is critical, however, for both basic and clinical research into brain function. Here we advocate for a concerted effort to fill this gap, through systematic, experimental mapping of neural circuits at a mesoscopic scale ... More
Cholera toxin B subunit binding does not correlate with GM1 expression: a study using mouse embryonic neural precursor cells.
Authors:Yanagisawa M, Ariga T, Yu RK
Journal:Glycobiology
PubMed ID:16964630
Gangliosides, sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids, are ubiquitously expressed in all eukaryotic cells and are primarily localized in the plasma membrane. Cholera toxin B subunit (Ctxb), a component of a heat-labile enterotoxin produced by Vibrio cholerae, has been frequently used as a probe to detect GM1 ganglioside because of its high affinity ... More