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Two classes of channel-specific toxins from funnel web spider venom

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Summary

  1. 1.

    The paralytic effects and neuromuscular actions ofAgelenopsis aperta venom on insects were analyzed biochemically and electrophysiologically.

  2. 2.

    Paralysis caused byAgelenopsis venom is correlated with two effects on neuromuscular transmission: postsynaptic inhibition and presynaptic excitation. These effects are explained by the actions of two classes of toxins purified by RPLC, theα- and μ-agatoxins.

  3. 3.

    Theα-agatoxins are low molecular weight, acylpolyamines which cause rapid, reversible paralysis correlated with use-dependent postsynaptic block of EPSPs and ionophoretic glutamate potentials. The μ-agatoxins are cysteine-rich polypeptides which cause irreversible paralysis and repetitive action potentials originating in presynaptic axons or nerve terminals.

  4. 4.

    The joint actions of theα- and μ-agatoxins lead to significantly higher rates of paralysis than are obtained by either toxin class alone, and this may relate to enhancement by excitatory μ-agatoxins of use-dependent block caused byα-agatoxins.

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Abbreviations

EPSP :

excitatory postsynaptic potential

RPLC :

reversed phase liquid chromatography

TTX :

tetrodotoxin

TFA :

trifluoroacetic acid

HFBA :

heptafluorobutyric acid

AG 489 :

α-agatoxin 489

μ-Aga I :

μ-agatoxin I,AR 659 argiotoxin 659

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Toxicology and Physiology, Department of Entomology, University of California, 92521, Riverside, California, USA

    Michael E. Adams, Edward E. Herold & Virginia J. Venema

Authors
  1. Michael E. Adams
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  2. Edward E. Herold
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  3. Virginia J. Venema
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Adams, M.E., Herold, E.E. & Venema, V.J. Two classes of channel-specific toxins from funnel web spider venom. J. Comp. Physiol. 164, 333–342 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00612993

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00612993

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