A crustacean-specific neurotoxin from the venom of the black widow spider Latrodectus mactans tredecimguttatus

A method of the isolation of a crustacea-specific neurotoxin from the venom of the Latrodectus mactans tredecimguttatus spider by means of ion exchange chromatography on Mono Q and Mono S columns and hydrophobic chromatography on Phenyl-Superose column has been developed. LD50 of the toxin has been elucidated.     

间斑寇蛛粗毒的生物学特性

近几十年来,间斑寇蛛(Latrodectus tredecimguttatus)已引起相关研究工作者的广泛关注,因为阐明其毒液中的特异性蛋白质和多肽活性成分对蜘蛛咬伤治疗具有重要的意义,且其粗毒液中的生物学活性成分在神经生物学和药物研究方面也有着潜在的应用前景。但直到现在,尽管已有不少研究报道了包括α-latrotoxin在内的几种间斑寇蛛毒性蛋白质的生物学性质和结构,但有关毒液生物学特性的系统研究的报道还很少。本研究采用解剖分离毒囊的方法从产于我国新疆的间斑寇蛛提取粗毒,并对其理化和生物学性质进行了系统的分析。定量测定结果表明,粗毒的蛋白质含量为36.99%,对小鼠和蜚蠊的LD50分别为0.39mg/kg和2.32μg/g体重。小鼠经腹腔注射粗毒后,出现呆滞、共济失调、排汗、痉挛、食欲减退、呼吸短促、睁眼困难等中毒症状,而注射生理盐水的对照小鼠活动正常。粗毒具有透明质酸酶、碱性磷酸酶、酸性磷酸酶、脱氧核糖核酸酶、乙酰胆碱酯酶、蛋白水解酶等多种水解酶的活性。10μg/ml该粗毒可以在31min±3.05min内完全抑制电刺激引起的大鼠输精管的收缩反应。6μg/ml粗毒可在25min±2.2min内完全阻断小鼠膈神经-膈肌标本的神经肌肉接头传递。膜片钳电生理实验显示,粗毒(1g/L)对蜚蠊背侧不成对中间(Dorsal unpaired median,DUM)神经元的快瞬时钾电流、钠电流、高电压激活的钙电流和大鼠背根神经节(Dorsal root ganglion,DRG)细胞延迟整流钾电流、TTX-S型钠电流、高电压激活的钙电流均无明显作用。     

Cloning and structure of cDNA encoding alpha-latrotoxin from black widow spider venom

cDNA encoding the putative alpha-latrotoxin precursor was isolated from spider venom glands cDNA library and sequenced. The cDNA contained the 4203 base-pair open reading frame corresponding to the 156,855-Da protein composed of 1401 amino acids. Computer analysis of the deduced primary structure revealed the presence of various internal imperfect repeats mainly in its central and C-terminal regions.     

Identification and isolation of the protein insect toxin (alpha-latroinsectotoxin from venom of the spider Latrodectus mactans tredecimguttatus

The crude venom of spider Latrodectus mactans tredecimguttatus was fractionated by the combination of anion exchange and hydrophobic chromatography. The biological activity of fraction was tested by means of: 1) estimation of toxicity for housefly larva; 2) intracellular recording of miniature excitatory potentials (MEPSPs) in blowfly larvae muscle fibres. As a result of sequential procedures of chromatography separation a homogeneous protein of 120 kilodalton molecular weight was obtained. This protein referred to alpha-latroinsectotoxin produced: 1) a great increase of the frequency of MEPSPs in the dose of 4.2.10(-10) M and its paralytic dose for fly larva was approximately 20 ng/species; 2) no influence of the MEPSPs after application in the dose of 1.2.10(-7) M to the neuromuscular junction of the frog.     

beta-Bungarotoxin antagonizes the effect of alpha-latrotoxin from black widow spider venom on the neuromuscular junction

Sustained contraction of the chick biventer cervicis nerve-muscle preparations evoked by alpha-latrotoxin was antagonized quickly by beta-bungarotoxin. This effect of beta-bungarotoxin was dependent on its phospholipase A2 activity. In contrast, pancreatic phospholipase A2 was ineffective even at a much higher dose. It is concluded that alpha-latrotoxin needs intact presynaptic membrane to exert its effect.     

Interaction of the Latrodectus tredecimguttatus spider venom with liposomes

It is established that interaction of Latrodectus tredecimguttatus venom with bilayer phospholipid membranes of liposomes results in formation of ion channels. Liposome permeability variations are estimated by input and output of 86Rb+ and 45Ca2+ isotopes. It is shown that LaCl3 in 0.5 mM concentration decreases considerably both input and output of Rb+ in proteoliposomes and it may be used as an inhibitor of latrotoxin channels in experiments with phospholipid vesicles. When studying electrophoretic spectrum of proteins bound with liposomes it is shown that latrotoxin (a polypeptide) with molecular mass 130 kDa predominates in proteoliposomes.     

Material properties of cobweb silk from the black widow spider Latrodectus hesperus.

We present the material analysis of scaffolding silk from the cobweb of the black widow spider Latrodectus hesperus. 30 strands were tested from the webs of nine spiders. Strands were stretched at 0.211 mm/s as force and extension were recorded. Cross-sectional area was measured under 1000 x oil-immersion light microscopy. The stress strain curve shows that cobweb silk is a distinct material from other known spider silks. The average breaking point for this cobweb silk is 1.1 +/- 0.5 GPa at 0.22 +/- 0.05 strain. All samples increased stiffness as they were stretched, but to different extents. Variation in stiffness might be due to differential crystallization or alignment of the silk proteins during stretching.     

Study of the amino acid sequence of latroinsectotoxin from black widow spider venom]

The N-terminal amino acid sequence of alpha-latroinsectotoxin from the venom of Latrodectus mactans tredecimguttatus was determined. Then the toxin was digested by trypsin and total or partial amino acid sequences of twenty-six tryptic peptides were established. This resulted in the structural information needed for the construction of probes followed by the cloning of the alpha-latroinsectotoxin structural gene.     

Effect of black widow spider venom on the cockroach heart

The effect of black widow spider venom [crude gland extract (CGE), gland lumen venom (GLV), or from direct bite] on the cardiac activity of Periplaneta americana was assayed both in vivo and in vitro. It was shown that these different forms of venom in all cases blocked the cockroach heart-beat. Both CGE and GLV showed a selective activity on the heart function compared with their effect on the CNS. It is suggested that cardiac block is due to impairment of either the cardiac nerve ganglia function or the myocardial neuromuscular junctions, or of both of them. The mode of action of the toxic effects on the heart is discussed. Experiments with antiserum from CGE indicate that the antigenic fractions of CGE and GLV affecting the heart function, as well as those affecting the insect motor functions, are common to both toxic materials.     

Structure of tryptic fragments of a neurotoxin from black widow spider venom

The N-terminal amino acid sequence of a neurotoxin from the venom of Latrodectus mactans tredecimguttatus (alpha-latrotoxin) was determined. Latrotoxin was subjected to the tryptic cleavage and total or partial amino acid sequences of 25 peptides were established. In total the tryptic fragments contained 252 amino acid residues. Essential structural information on cloning of the latrotoxin structural gene was obtained.     

Ultrastructure of the major ampullate gland of the black widow spider,Latrodectus hesperus

Silk production in the spider occurs within specialized glands that are capable of the synthesis of large fibrous proteins and the post-translational processing of those proteins to form an insoluble fiber. The major ampullate gland of Latrodectus hesperus (black widow) is similar in morphology to those found in the Araneid spiders. The tail domain of this gland is highly protein synthetic, giving rise to a core, fibrous protein product. In addition to a storage function, the ampulla region also synthesizes and exports an electron dense material that appears to form a 'coat' surrounding the silk generated within the tail. The duct of the gland consists of at least two distinct cell types: one type contains 'honeycomb' vesicles of unknown function, while the other possesses elaborate apical microvilli that may be involved in the reabsorption of water and subsequent dehydration of the silk. As the silk product transits through these various stages of assembly, it can been seen to undergo a condensation or concentration, possibly reflecting the influence of both the shear forces induced by movement into the duct and the dehydration that is thought to occur there.     

Isolation and properties of insect-specific neurotoxins from venoms of the spider Lactodectus mactans tredecimguttatus

A method has been developed for isolating five insect-specific neurotoxins and alpha-latrotoxin from venom of the Latrodectus mactans tredecimguttatus spider by means of ion exchange chromatography on Mono Q and Mono S columns and chromatography on hydroxylapatite column. LD 50 of all the toxins are determined.     

Extraction and protein component analysis of venom from the dissected venom glands of Latrodectus tredecimguttatus

Black widow spiders (genus Latrodectus) have attracted increasing attention due to frequently reported human injuries caused by them and the potential applications of biologically active components in their venoms. Although a number of studies have described the biological properties and structures of several venomous proteins such as latrotoxins, a comprehensive analysis of protein component of the venom from the spider is not available. We used combinative proteomic strategies to assess the protein components of the crude venom collected from Latrodectus tredecimguttatus by extracting the dissected venom glands. The experiments demonstrated that the crude venom of L. tredecimguttatus has a high abundance of acidic proteins with molecular masses greater than 15 kDa, and the content of proteins and peptides of below 15 kDa is low. 86 unique proteins were identified, part of which were contaminations of cellular components during the extraction, determined in comparison with venom obtained by electrostimulation. Except for members of latrotoxin family that were commonly considered as the primary toxic components of the venom, several other special enzymes and proteins were detected such as protease, phosphatase, lysozyme, inhibitory protein, and so on. These protein components, particularly the proteases, were speculated to play important roles in the action of L. tredecimguttatus venom.     

Some effects of the venom of the Chilean spider Latrodectus mactans on endogenous ion-currents of Xenopus laevis oocytes

A study was made of the effects of the venom of the Chilean spider Latrodectus mactans on endogenous ion-currents of Xenopus laevis oocytes. 1 μg/ml of the venom made the resting plasma membrane potential more negative in cells voltage-clamped at −60 mV. The effect was potentially due to the closure of one or several conductances that were investigated further. Thus, we determined the effects of the venom on the following endogenous ionic-currents: (a) voltage-activated potassium currents, (b) voltage-activated chloride-currents, and (c) calcium-dependent chloride-currents (Tout). The results suggest that the venom exerts its action mainly on a transient outward potassium-current that is probably mediated by a Kv channel homologous to shaker. Consistent with the electrophysiological evidence we detected the expression of the mRNA coding for xKv1.1 in the oocytes.     

Molecular and mechanical properties of major ampullate silk of the black widow spider, Latrodectus hesperus

Molecular and material properties of major ampullate silk were studied for the cobweb-building black widow spider Latrodectus hesperus. Material properties were measured by stretching the silk to breaking. The strength was 1.0 +/- 0.2 GPa, and the extensibility was 34 +/- 8%. The secondary structure of the major ampullate silk protein was studied using carbon-13 NMR spectroscopy. Alanine undergoes a transition from a coiled structure in pre-spun silk to a beta sheet structure in post-spun silk. We have also isolated two distinct cDNAs (both about 500 bp) which encode proteins similar to major ampullate spidroin 1 and 2 (MaSp1 and MaSp2). The MaSp1-like silk contains polyalanine runs of 5-10 residues as well as GA and GGX motifs. The MaSp2-like silk contains polyalanine runs of varying length as well as GPG(X)(n) motifs. L. hesperus major ampullate silk is more like major ampullate silk from other species than other L. hesperus silks.