Î´/Ï‰-Plectoxin-Pt1a: An Excitatory Spider Toxin with Actions on both Ca2+ and Na+ Channels

Yi Zhou; Mingli Zhao; Gregg B Fields; Chun-Fang Wu; W. Dale Branton

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0064324

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Î´/Ï‰-Plectoxin-Pt1a: An Excitatory Spider Toxin with Actions on both Ca2+ and Na+ Channels

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Î´/Ï‰-Plectoxin-Pt1a: An Excitatory Spider Toxin with Actions on both Ca2+ and Na+ Channels

Yi Zhou, Mingli Zhao, Gregg B Fields, Chun-Fang Wu and W. Dale Branton

PloS one, Vol.8(5), p.e64324

05/14/2013

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064324

PMCID: PMC3653879

PMID: 23691198

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Abstract

The venom of spider Plectreurys tristis contains a variety of peptide toxins that selectively target neuronal ion channels. O-palmitoylation of a threonine or serine residue, along with a characteristic and highly constrained disulfide bond structure, are hallmarks of a family of toxins found in this venom. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of a new toxin, δ/ω-plectoxin-Pt1a, from this spider venom. It is a 40 amino acid peptide containing an O-palmitoylated Ser-39. Analysis of δ/ω-plectoxin-Pt1a cDNA reveals a small precursor containing a secretion signal sequence, a 14 amino acid N-terminal propeptide, and a C-terminal amidation signal. The biological activity of δ/ω-plectoxin-Pt1a is also unique. It preferentially blocks a subset of Ca 2+ channels that is apparently not required for neurotransmitter release; decreases threshold for Na + channel activation; and slows Na + channel inactivation. As δ/ω-plectoxin-Pt1a enhances synaptic transmission by prolonging presynaptic release of neurotransmitter, its effects on Na + and Ca 2+ channels may act synergistically to sustain the terminal excitability.

Biology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Î´/Ï‰-Plectoxin-Pt1a: An Excitatory Spider Toxin with Actions on both Ca2+ and Na+ Channels
Creators: Yi Zhou
Mingli Zhao
Gregg B Fields
Chun-Fang Wu
W. Dale Branton
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: PloS one, Vol.8(5), p.e64324
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064324
PMID: 23691198
PMCID: PMC3653879
NLM abbreviation: PLoS One
ISSN: 1932-6203
eISSN: 1932-6203
Publisher: Public Library of Science; San Francisco, USA
Alternative title: An O-Palmitoylated Excitatory Toxin
Language: English
Date published: 05/14/2013
Academic Unit: Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Biology
Record Identifier: 9984070889302771

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