Spider Venoms: Biochemical Aspects

SYNOPSIS. The venoms of spiders are quite complex and containan array of biologically active components. The majority ofstudies on the biochemical aspects of these venoms have utilizedfour species: Phoneutria fera, Lycosa erythrognatha, Atrax robustus,and Latrodectus mactans. They produce venoms which are lethalto mammals as well as arthropods. The following substances havebeen isolated from one or more of their venoms: a-aminobutyricacid, histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, spermine, proteases, hyaluronidase,phosphodiesterase, and toxic and lethal polypeptides. With thepossible exception of spermine, the lethality of these venomsappears to be the result of the actions of the polypeptides.The other substances apparently play a subsidiary role.