scholarly journals Latrophilin is required for toxicity of black widow spider venom in Caenorhabditis elegans

2004 ◽  
Vol 378 (1) ◽  
pp. 185-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J. MEE ◽  
Simon R. TOMLINSON ◽  
Pavel V. PERESTENKO ◽  
David de POMERAI ◽  
Ian R. DUCE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Drug Sensitivity ◽  
Physiological Function ◽  
High Molecular Mass ◽  
Spider Venom ◽  
Black Widow ◽  
Black Widow Spider ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Black Widow Spider Venom ◽  
Widow Spider

Black widow spider venom (BWSV) kills Caenorhabditis elegans after injection owing to the presence of heat- and detergent-sensitive components, which are high-molecular-mass latrotoxins. A C. elegans homologue of latrophilin/CIRL (calcium-independent receptor for latrotoxin), B0457.1, was identified and shown to have five conserved domains. RNAi (RNA interference) of this gene rendered C. elegans resistant to BWSV, whereas RNAi for CYP37A1 or a neurexin I homologue, and a deletion mutant of the related B0286.2 gene, had no effect on BWSV toxicity. The latrophilin RNAi mutants exhibit changes in defaecation cycle and alterations in drug sensitivity. These results demonstrate that latrophilin mediates the toxicity of BWSV and provide evidence for a physiological function of this receptor.

Properties of spontaneous potentials at denervated motor endplates of the frog

1976 ◽  
Vol 194 (1115) ◽  
pp. 195-210 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Schwann Cell ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Experimental Treatment ◽  
Spider Venom ◽  
Black Widow ◽  
Motor Endplates ◽  
Black Widow Spider ◽  
Ringer’S Solution ◽  
Black Widow Spider Venom ◽  
Widow Spider

Some properties of spontaneous miniature potentials at denervated frog motor endplates (Schwann cell-min. e. p. ps) have been investigated. Schwann cell-min. e. p. ps showed a slower and more variable time course than min. e. p. ps at inneryated endplates. The occurrence of Schwann cell-min. e. p. ps usually obeyed Poisson statistics and in the absence of experimental treatment their mean frequency remained stable for several hours. Schwann cell-min. e. p. p. frequency increased with increasing temperature. A logarithmic relation was observed with a mean Q 10 of 4.87 ± 0.37. In other experiments a Q 10 of 9.50 ± 0.63 was found for min. e. p. ps at innervated endplates. Lanthanum and manganese ions, black widow spider venom, ethanol, diamide, ouabain, theophylline and acid Ringer’s solution, all of which increased normal min. e. p. p. frequency, failed to raise the frequency of Schwann cell-min. e. p. ps. Lanthanum, ethanol, ouabain and low pH depressed the frequency, while black widow spider venom, diamide, theophyline and manganese were without significant effect. Adenosine, which depresses min. e. p. p. frequency at innervated endplates, had no effect on spontaneous miniature potentials at denervated endplates. Removal of Ca 2+ from the external medium reduced the frequency of Schwann min. e. p. ps; and a decrease was also seen in one experiment where the Ca 2+ concentration was raised from 1.8 to 10 mM. Diluting the Ringer’s solution raised Schwann cell-min. e. p. p. frequency transiently. This increase resulted from a reduction in osmolarity, not in the ionic strength, of the medium.

scholarly journals ACTIVATION OF A NITRERGIC MECHANISM BY BLACK WIDOW SPIDER VENOM AND α-LATROTOXIN

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
C.G Li ◽  
M.J. Rand ◽  
T. Akaike ◽  
M. Yoshida ◽  
H. Maeda
Keyword(s):  
Spider Venom ◽  
Black Widow ◽  
Black Widow Spider ◽  
Black Widow Spider Venom ◽  
Widow Spider

Action of Black Widow Spider Venom on an Aminergic Synapse

Nature ◽  
1973 ◽  
Vol 241 (5388) ◽  
pp. 353-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. G. CULL-CANDY ◽  
H. NEAL ◽  
P. N. R. USHERWOOD
Keyword(s):  
Spider Venom ◽  
Black Widow ◽  
Black Widow Spider ◽  
Black Widow Spider Venom ◽  
Widow Spider
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