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. 1987 Oct 29;148(2):678-83.
doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(87)90930-2.

Structures and biological activities of three synaptic antagonists from orb weaver spider venom

M E Adams  1 , R L Carney, F E Enderlin, E T Fu, M A Jarema, J P Li, C A Miller, D A Schooley, M J Shapiro, V J Venema
Affiliations

Structures and biological activities of three synaptic antagonists from orb weaver spider venom

M E Adams et al. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. .

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.

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