A novel spider toxin as a selective antagonist of the Kv1 subfamily of voltage-gated potassium channels through gating modulation.

Members of the voltage-gated potassium channel subfamily (Kv1) are essential for the nervous and immune systems, necessitating novel modulators and deeper insights into their structure-function relationships. While all known peptide inhibitors targeting Kv1 channels are pore blockers, we identified MrVIII (κ-HxTx-MrVIII), a novel peptide toxin from the venom of spider Macrothele raveni, as the first voltage-gating modifier antagonist with selective activity against Kv1 channels. MrVIII exhibits high-affinity inhibition of Kv1.

Assignment of Disulfide Bonds in HNTX-XXI by Double-Enzymatic Digestion and Edman Degradation.

HNTX-XXI, a peptide toxin derived from the venom of the spider , comprises a 64-amino-acid protein architecture that notably incorporates eight cysteine residues positioned at positions 2, 10, 14, 16, 17, 23, 36, and 63. The close spatial proximity of Cys16 and Cys17 poses a challenge in resolving their disulfide bridge configurations using standard methodologies. In this study, we introduce an innovative and highly efficient approach for delineating disulfide pairings in peptides containing adjacent cysteines.

A review on antitumor effect of pachymic acid.

Poria cocos, also known as Jade Ling and Songbai taro, is a dry fungus core for Wolfiporia cocos, which is parasitic on the roots of pine trees. The ancients called it "medicine of four seasons" because of its extensive effect and ability to be combined with many medicines. Pachymic acid (PA) is one of the main biological compounds of Poria cocos.

Molecular mechanisms of two novel and selective TRPV1 channel activators.

Venomous toxins hold immense value as tools in elucidating the intricate structure and underlying mechanisms of ion channels. In this article, we identified of two novel toxins, Hainantoxin-XXI (HNTX-XXI) and Hainantoxin-XXII (HNTX-XXII), derived from the venom of the Chinese spider Ornithoctonus hainana. HNTX-XXI, boasting a molecular weight of 6869.

(Schw.) Wolf, a Traditional Chinese Edible Medicinal Herb, Promotes Neuronal Differentiation, and the Morphological Maturation of Newborn Neurons in Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells.

Neurogenesis in the adult brain comprises the entire set of events of neuronal development. It begins with the division of precursor cells to form a mature, integrated, and functioning neuronal network. Adult neurogenesis is believed to play an important role in animals' cognitive abilities, including learning and memory.

Transcriptome analysis reveals the peptide toxins diversity of Macrothele palpator venom.

Spider venom is a large pharmacological repertoire of different bioactive peptide toxins. However, obtaining crude venom from some spiders is challenging. Thus, studying individual toxins through venom purification is a daunting task.

Untargeted metabolomics identifies potential serum biomarkers associated with Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease (CD) is well characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The diagnose of CD relays on the comprehensive evaluation of patient symptoms, laboratory examination, radiology, and endoscopy. There is lack of biomarkers or simple test for CD detection.

A molecular link between autophagy and circadian rhythm in plants.

Extremely high or low autophagy levels disrupt plant survival under nutrient starvation. Recently, autophagy has been reported to display rhythms in animals. However, the mechanism of circadian regulation of autophagy is still unclear.

Transcriptomic Analysis of the Spider Venom Gland Reveals Venom Diversity and Species Consanguinity.

() has been recently identified as a new species of spider in China. It lives in the same habitat as various other venomous spiders, including (), (), and (). The venom from these different species of spiders exhibits some similarities and some differences in terms of their biochemical and electrophysiological properties.

A novel tarantula toxin stabilizes the deactivated voltage sensor of bacterial sodium channel.

Voltage-gated sodium channels (Nas) are activated by transiting the voltage sensor from the deactivated to the activated state. The crystal structures of several bacterial Nas have captured the voltage sensor module (VSM) in an activated state, but structure of the deactivated voltage sensor remains elusive. In this study, we sought to identify peptide toxins stabilizing the deactivated VSM of bacterial Nas.

Characterization of ion channels on subesophageal ganglion neurons from Chinese tarantula Ornithoctonus huwena: Exploring the myth of the spider insensitive to its venom.

Chinese tarantula Ornithoctonus huwena is one of the most venomous spiders distributing in the hilly areas of southern China. In this study, using whole-cell patch-clamp technique we investigated electrophysiological and pharmacological properties of ion channels from tarantula subesophageal ganglion neurons. It was found that the neurons express multiple kinds of ion channels at least including voltage-gated calcium channels, TTX-sensitive sodium channels and two types of potassium channels.

[Effects of the extracts from Ajuga decumbens on anti-fatigue in mice].

Objective: To investigate the effects of extracts from on anti-fatigue in mice.

Methods: One hundred and twenty female Kunming (KM) mice were randomly divided into quiet control group, sport control group, positive control group and 3 experimental groups which were the low, medium and high dose group given the extracts from . The low, medium and high dose group were given the extracts with 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg by body weight of mice for 30 d, respectively, but the positive control group was given American ginseng granules, while the quiet control group and the sport control groups were treated with saline.

[Determination of peptide and protein diversity in venom of the spider Selenocosmia jiafu by high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry].

Selenocosmia jiafu (S. jiafu) is recently identified as a new species of spider in P. R.

A Comparative Analysis of the Venom Gland Transcriptomes of the Fishing Spiders Dolomedes mizhoanus and Dolomedes sulfurous.

Dolomedes sulfurous and Dolomedes mizhoanus are predaceous arthropods catching and feeding on small fish. They live in the same area and have similar habits. Their venoms exhibit some similarities and differences in biochemical and electrophysiological properties.

[Effects of Lonicera Japonica flavone on immunomodulation in mice].

Objective: To study immunomodulating activity of Lonicera Japonica flavone by investigating immune enzymatic activity of serum and antoxidized activity of lymphoid organs in mice.

Methods: Fifty KM mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, low dose group, middle dose group and high dose group(n = 10), respectively. And low dose group, middle dose group and high dose group were given Lonicera Japonica flavone with 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg every day, respectively, while control group and model group were administered with NS.

Synergetic action of domain II and IV underlies persistent current generation in Nav1.3 as revealed by a tarantula toxin.

The persistent current (INaP) through voltage-gated sodium channels enhances neuronal excitability by causing prolonged depolarization of membranes. Nav1.3 intrinsically generates a small INaP, although the mechanism underlying its generation remains unclear.

The tarantula toxin jingzhaotoxin-XI (κ-theraphotoxin-Cj1a) regulates the activation and inactivation of the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.5.

Specific peptide toxins interact with voltage-gated sodium channels by regulating the activation or inactivation of targeted channels. However, few toxins possessing dual effects have been identified. In the present study, we showed that jingzhaotoxin-XI/κ-theraphotoxin-Cj1a (JZTX-XI), a 34-residue peptide from the venom of the Chinese spider Chilobrachys jingzhao, inhibits the sodium conductance (IC50 = 124 ± 26 nM) and slows the fast inactivation (EC50 = 1.

The venom of the spider Selenocosmia jiafu contains various neurotoxins acting on voltage-gated ion channels in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons.

Selenocosmia jiafu is a medium-sized theraphosid spider and an attractive source of venom, because it can be bred in captivity and it produces large amounts of venom. We performed reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) analyses and showed that S. jiafu venom contains hundreds of peptides with a predominant mass of 3000-4500 Da.

Isolation technique and proteomic analysis of the erythrocyte ghosts of red-eared turtle (Trachemys scripta).

To proceed proteomic analysis of erythrocyte of the red-eared turtle Trachemys scripta, a method for obtaining turtle erythrocyte ghosts (TEG) was first developed. After hypotonic lysis using a special buffer, forcing the erythrocyte through the syringe with an "N"-shaped needle, applying low speed homogenizing and differential centrifugation, highly purified TEG fractions were obtained. The isolated TEG proteins were treated with in-gel digestion separated by SDS-PAGE or in-solution digestion followed by HPLC predissociation, and then identified by nano-ESI-LC MS/MS techniques.