Journal
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
Volume 67, Issue 16, Pages 2799-2813Publisher
SPRINGER BASEL AG
DOI: 10.1007/s00018-010-0359-x
Keywords
Citharischius crawshayi; Transcriptome; Spider toxin; Theraposidae; King Baboon spider
Categories
Funding
- K.U. Leuven [OT/05/64]
- Fund for Scientific Research (FWO)-Flanders [G.330.06]
- Belgian Federal Science Policy IAP [P6/31]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Despite strong efforts, knowledge about the composition of the venom of many spider species remains very limited. This work is the first report of transcriptome and venom analysis of the African spider Citharischius crawshayi. We used combined protocols of transcriptomics, venomics, and biological assays to characterize the venom and genes expressed in venom glands. A cDNA library of the venom glands was constructed and used to generate expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Sequence comparisons from 236 ESTs revealed interesting and unique sequences, corresponding to toxin-like and other components. Mass spectrometrical analysis of venom fractions showed more than 600 molecular masses, some of which showed toxic activity on crickets and modulated sodium currents in DmNa(v)1 and Na(v)1.6 channels as expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Taken together, our results may contribute to a better understanding of the cellular processes involved in the transcriptome and help us to discover new components from spider venom glands with therapeutic potential.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available