1.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun
; 148(2): 678-83, 1987 Oct 29.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-3689366
ABSTRACT
The venom of Argiope aurantia, an orb weaver spider, contains a mixture of low molecular weight "argiotoxins", which block neuromuscular transmission in insects. Complete structure elucidation of three argiotoxins reveals common features; a hydrophilic, basic domain of arginine, a polyamine and asparagine is connected to an aromatic moiety contributed either by 4-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid or 2,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid. Structural assignments of two argiotoxins are verified by chemical synthesis. The argiotoxins cause reversible paralysis when injected into insects and this is correlated with a stimulus-dependent inhibition of skeletal neuromuscular transmission at submicromolar concentrations.