Extraction and protein component analysis of venom from the dissected venom glands of Latrodectus tredecimguttatus

Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol. 2006 Nov-Dec;145(3-4):350-7. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2006.08.006. Epub 2006 Sep 5.

Abstract

Black widow spiders (genus Latrodectus) have attracted increasing attention due to frequently reported human injuries caused by them and the potential applications of biologically active components in their venoms. Although a number of studies have described the biological properties and structures of several venomous proteins such as latrotoxins, a comprehensive analysis of protein component of the venom from the spider is not available. We used combinative proteomic strategies to assess the protein components of the crude venom collected from Latrodectus tredecimguttatus by extracting the dissected venom glands. The experiments demonstrated that the crude venom of L. tredecimguttatus has a high abundance of acidic proteins with molecular masses greater than 15 kDa, and the content of proteins and peptides of below 15 kDa is low. 86 unique proteins were identified, part of which were contaminations of cellular components during the extraction, determined in comparison with venom obtained by electrostimulation. Except for members of latrotoxin family that were commonly considered as the primary toxic components of the venom, several other special enzymes and proteins were detected such as protease, phosphatase, lysozyme, inhibitory protein, and so on. These protein components, particularly the proteases, were speculated to play important roles in the action of L. tredecimguttatus venom.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Black Widow Spider / chemistry*
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
  • Lethal Dose 50
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Proteins / analysis*
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
  • Spider Venoms / chemistry*
  • Spider Venoms / toxicity

Substances

  • Proteins
  • Spider Venoms