Neurotoxin Merging : A Strategy Deployed by the Venom of the Spider Cupiennius salei to Potentiate Toxicity on Insects

The venom of Cupiennius salei is composed of dozens of neurotoxins, with most of them supposed to act on ion channels. Some insecticidal monomeric neurotoxins contain an α-helical part besides their inhibitor cystine knot (ICK) motif (type 1). Other neurotoxins have, besides the ICK motif, an α-helical part of an open loop, resulting in a heterodimeric structure (type 2). Due to their low toxicity, it is difficult to understand the existence of type 2 peptides. Here, we show with the voltage clamp technique in oocytes of Xenopus laevis that a combined application of structural type 1 and type 2 neurotoxins has a much more pronounced cytolytic effect than each of the toxins alone. In biotests with Drosophila melanogaster, the combined effect of both neurotoxins was enhanced by 2 to 3 log units when compared to the components alone. Electrophysiological measurements of a type 2 peptide at 18 ion channel types, expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, showed no effect. Microscale thermophoresis data indicate a monomeric/heterodimeric peptide complex formation, thus a direct interaction between type 1 and type 2 peptides, leading to cell death. In conclusion, peptide mergers between both neurotoxins are the main cause for the high cytolytic activity of Cupienniussalei venom.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2020

Erschienen:

2020

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:12

Enthalten in:

Toxins - 12(2020), 4 vom: 12. Apr.

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Clémençon, Benjamin [VerfasserIn]
Kuhn-Nentwig, Lucia [VerfasserIn]
Langenegger, Nicolas [VerfasserIn]
Kopp, Lukas [VerfasserIn]
Peigneur, Steve [VerfasserIn]
Tytgat, Jan [VerfasserIn]
Nentwig, Wolfgang [VerfasserIn]
Lüscher, Benjamin P [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Bioassay
CsTx-13
Cupiennius salei
Ion Channels
Journal Article
Microscale thermophoresis
Neurotoxin merging
Neurotoxins
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Spider Venoms
Venom

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 02.03.2021

Date Revised 02.03.2021

published: Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.3390/toxins12040250

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM308755596