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Purification, structure determination and synthesis of covalitoxin‐II, a short insect‐specific neurotoxic peptide from the venom of the Coremiocnemis validus (Singapore tarantula)
Author(s) -
Balaji R.Ashok,
Sasaki Toru,
Gopalakrishnakone P.,
Sato Kazuki,
Kini R.Manjunatha,
Bay Boon-Huat
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(00)01593-3
Subject(s) - venom , spider toxin , spider , cockroach , insect , peptide , biology , toxin , peptide sequence , biochemistry , cystine , chemistry , zoology , botany , ecology , glutamate receptor , cysteine , receptor , enzyme , gene
Spider venoms contain toxins that specifically immobilize and kill insects. We report the purification and characterization of a new insect‐specific toxin named covalitoxin‐II (Cvtx‐II; mass, 3406.24±0.64), from Coremiocnemis validus (Singapore tarantula) venom. The complete 31 amino acid sequence of Cvtx‐II has been determined and it shows less than 40% identity with spider toxins. However, Cvtx‐II has conserved cystine motif analogous to other spider and ω‐conotoxins. Cvtx‐II was chemically synthesized and identified with the native Cvtx‐II. Synthetic Cvtx‐II induced insect‐specific non‐lethal excitatory activity when injected into crickets, but not in cockroaches and mice.