High impact information on Black Widow Spider

• alpha-Latrotoxin, a potent neurotoxin from black widow spider venom, triggers synaptic vesicle exocytosis from presynaptic nerve terminals. alpha-Latrotoxin is a large protein toxin (120 kDa) that contains 22 ankyrin repeats [1].
• The receptor protein of alpha-latrotoxin (alpha LTx, a neurotoxin with 'pure' presynaptic action isolated from black widow spider venom), was solubilized by Triton X-100 from bovine brain membranes and purified by affinity chromatography on alpha LTx-Sepharose [2].
• Similarly, the mESC frequency in n-syb null mutants could be increased by a Ca2+ ionophore, A23187, and by black widow spider venom [3].
• 2. Tetanic nerve stimulation, Black Widow Spider Venom, the Caionophore A 23187 or mechanical damage to nerve terminals increases the frequency of m.e.p.p.s and alters the amplitude distribution of m.e.p.p.s towards a normal Gaussian one; the m.e.p.p. size approaches that seen at normal end-plates [4].
• In a second series of experiments, intact neuromuscular junctions were stimulated with black widow spider venom and fixed with paraformaldehyde [5].

Anatomical context of Black Widow Spider

• The release of acetylcholine elicited by extracts of black widow spider glands: studies using rat superior cervical ganglia and inhibitors of electrically stimulated release [6].
• In the isolated rat hypothalamus preincubated with 3H-noradrenaline, an extract from the venom glands of Latrodectus mactans elicited on overflow of tritium which consisted of 70--71% 3H-noradrenaline and 18% 3H-3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol [7].
• Inhibition of 5-hydroxytryptamine contraction of guinea-pig smooth muscle treated with black widow spider venom [8].
• The effect of the purified major protein factor (alpha-latrotoxin) of black widow spider venom on the release of acetylcholine and norepinephrine from mouse cerebral cortex slices [9].
• alpha Latrotoxin of black widow spider venom binds to a specific receptor coupled to phosphoinositide breakdown in PC12 cells [10].

Associations of Black Widow Spider with chemical compounds

• alpha Latrotoxin of the black widow spider venom opens a small, non-closing cation channel [11].
• A comparison of calcium gluconate and methocarbamol (Robaxin) in the treatment of Latrodectism (black widow spider envenomation) [12].
• Preliminary report: experience with the use of dantrolene sodium in the treatment of bites by the black widow spider Latrodectus hesperus [13].
• Similar observations were made with ethanol 0.1 M, ouabain 200 micrometers or black widow spider venom [14].

Gene context of Black Widow Spider

• Regeneration of soleus motor nerve terminals after focal destruction by black widow spider venom (BWSV) or its active factor alpha-latrotoxin (LTx) was compared in young and old CBF-1 mice [15].
• Alpha-latrotoxin, the poison of the black widow spider, binds at a 54 kDa aminoterminal fragment of HC110R [16].
• Some samples of latrotoxin purified from the black widow spider venom contain two components: alpha-latrotoxin (M(r) approximately 130,000) and a low mol. wt protein with M(r) about 8000 [17].
• Black widow spider alpha-latrotoxin: a presynaptic neurotoxin that shares structural homology with the glucagon-like peptide-1 family of insulin secretagogic hormones [18].

References