alpha-Latrotoxin as an instrument for studying neurosecretions

alpha-Latrotoxin, a presynaptic toxin from black widow spider venom Latrodectus mactans tredecimguttatus, triggers exocytosis in a variety of neurosecretory cells both in the presence and absence of calcium in the medium. The toxin interacts with two types of membrane the receptors which belong to different families of neuronal proteins and have different structures. Calcium-dependent receptor of alpha-latrotoxin is identified as neurexin I alpha and belongs to the family of neurexins. This family is selectively expressed in nerve tissue. The calcium-independent receptor of alpha-latrotoxin belongs to the family of G-protein-coupled receptors and proteins which homologous to it are found in heart, lung, kidney and spleen tissues. As a result of alpha-latrotoxin interaction with membrane receptor in the calcium medium the toxin forms the ionic channels in plasmalemma and enhances its calcium permeability. The effects of alpha-latrotoxin on exocytosis in the calcium and calcium-free media and question concerning coupling of channel-forming and secretogenic properties of alpha-latrotoxin are discussed.