Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The black widow's versatile venom

  • News & Views
  • Published:

From Nature Structural Biology

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

The structure of a tetrameric form of the spider neurotoxin, α-latrotoxin, has been determined by single particle cryo-electron microscopy. It reveals a pore complex with extended arms that could bind receptors involved in synaptic vesicle exocytosis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1: Schematic diagram of a synapse, with components of transmitter vesicle exocytosis.
Figure 2: Cryo-EM reconstruction of the latrotoxin tetramer in a, top and b, side view.
Figure 3: Model of the latrotoxin tetramer (cut open to reveal the channel) in the membrane bilayer.

References

  1. Rosenthal, L. & Meldolesi, J. Pharmacol. Ther. 42 , 115–134 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Henkel, A.W. & Sankaranarayanan, S. Cell Tissue Res. 296, 229–233 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Orlova, E.V. et al. Nature Struct. Biol. 7, 48– 53 (2000).

  4. Davletov, B.A. et al. EMBO J. 17, 3909–3920 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Butz, S., Okamoto, M. & Sudhof, T.C. Cell 94, 773– 782 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Serysheva, I.I. et al. Nature Struct. Biol. 2, 18– 24 (1995).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Radermacher, M. et al. J. Cell Biol. 127, 411– 423 (1994).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Henderson, R. Q. Rev. Biophys. 28, 171–193 (1995).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Department of Crystallography, Birkbeck College, Malet Street, London, London, WC1E 7HX, UK

    Helen R. Saibil

Authors
  1. Helen R. Saibil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Saibil, H. The black widow's versatile venom. Nat Struct Mol Biol 7, 3–4 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/71190

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/71190

  • Springer Nature America, Inc.

Search

Navigation