Lrp. Troncone et al., BIOCHEMICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES ON A LETHAL NEUROTOXIC POLYPEPTIDE FROM PHONEUTRIA NIGRIVENTER SPIDER VENOM, Neurochemical research, 20(7), 1995, pp. 879-883
Fractionation of Phoneutria nigriventer spider venom by gel filtration
and HPLC yielded a few fractions that induced different effects when
administered intraperitoneally in mice. One of these fractions, PF3, w
as chemically characterized as a cysteine-rich polypeptide of similar
to 8360 MW. Administered at 0.1 mg/kg, i.p., PF3 induced a progressive
paralysis and death of mice within 30 minutes. Partial sequence analy
sis of PF3 revealed certain homologies with other spider toxins alread
y described, particularly omega-AGAIIA (60%) from Agelenopsis aperta.
Pharmacological characterization carried out in superfused chopped rat
striatal tissues preloaded with [H-3]-Dopamine ([H-3]-DA) showed that
PF3 (0.1 mu g/ml) decreased the [H-3]-DA release induced by 20 mM Kor 100 mu M glutamate without changing the basal release. At 1 mu g/ml
, PF3 inhibited 33% of the basal release of [H-3]-DA; the transmitter
release stimulated by K+ or by glutamate was reduced by respectively,
87% and 77% of corresponding control values. PF3 (0.1 mu g/ml) altered
the dose-response curves of glutamate (1 mu M - 10 mM), by reducing b
y 36% of its maximal effect. Naloxone (1 mu M) did not influence the e
ffect of PF3. The results indicate that PF3 inhibits the [H-3]-DA rele
ase induced by membrane depolarization or that mediated by NMDA glutam
ate receptors. These data suggest that the mechanism of action of PF3
may involve a blockade of Ca2+ channels as well as a direct effect on
the exocytotic machinery.