Complete amino acid sequence of a new type of lethal neurotoxin from the venom of the funnel-web spider Atrax robustus

FEBS Lett. 1985 Feb 11;181(1):154-6. doi: 10.1016/0014-5793(85)81132-7.

Abstract

Robustoxin, the lethal neurotoxin isolated from the venom of the male Sydney funnel-web spider, Atrax robustus, is of unique structural type and physiological mode of action. The primary structure of this 42-residue peptide was determined to be H2N-Cys-Ala-Lys-Lys-Arg-Asn-Trp-Cys-Gly-Lys-Asn-Glu-Asp-Cys-Cys-Cys-Pro- Met-Lys-Cys-Ile-Tyr-Ala-Trp-Tyr-Asn-Gln-Gln-Gly-Ser-Cys-Gln-Thr-Thr-Ile- Thr-Gly-Leu-Phe-Lys-Lys-Cys-H. The disposition of disulphide-bridged cysteine residues at both the amino- and carboxy-termini and as a triplet at residues 14-16 appears to have no precedent amongst neurotoxins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Arthropod Venoms / analysis*
  • Male
  • Spider Venoms / analysis*

Substances

  • Arthropod Venoms
  • Spider Venoms
  • robustoxin