Channel-forming action--a general property of venoms of spiders in the family Theridiidae (Aranei)

The study of venom action of 10 spider species of Theridiidae family has shown that they cause the formation of the cation selective channels on the bilayer lipid membranes. This action does not depend on the species sex and age and it is the important diagnostic characteristic of the family. The channel-forming effect is due to the presence of the peptide with molecular weight about 5000 daltons in venoms of Theridiidae spider family.