Santana Renan C, Perez David, Dobson James, Panagides Nadya, Raven Robert J, Nouwens Amanda, Jones Alun, King Glenn F, Fry Bryan G
Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
Terrestrial Biodiversity, Queensland Museum, South Brisbane BC, QLD 4101, Australia.
Toxins (Basel). 2017 Mar 25;9(4):116. doi: 10.3390/toxins9040116.
Theraphosid spiders (tarantulas) are venomous arthropods found in most tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Tarantula venoms are a complex cocktail of toxins with potential use as pharmacological tools, drugs and bioinsecticides. Although numerous toxins have been isolated from tarantula venoms, little research has been carried out on the venom of Australian tarantulas. We therefore investigated the venom profile of the Australian theraphosid spider and examined whether there are ontogenetic changes in venom composition. Spiders were divided into four ontogenic groups according to cephalothorax length, then the venom composition of each group was examined using gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. We found that the venom of changes continuously during development and throughout adulthood. Our data highlight the need to investigate the venom of organisms over the course of their lives to uncover and understand the changing functions of venom and the full range of toxins expressed. This in turn should lead to a deeper understanding of the organism's ecology and enhance the potential for biodiscovery.
捕鸟蛛是一种有毒的节肢动物，分布于世界上大多数热带和亚热带地区。捕鸟蛛毒液是一种复杂的毒素混合物，具有作为药理学工具、药物和生物杀虫剂的潜在用途。尽管已经从捕鸟蛛毒液中分离出了许多毒素，但对澳大利亚捕鸟蛛毒液的研究却很少。因此，我们研究了澳大利亚捕鸟蛛的毒液特征，并检查了毒液成分是否存在个体发育变化。根据头胸部长度将蜘蛛分为四个个体发育组，然后使用凝胶电泳和质谱法检查每组的毒液成分。我们发现，其毒液在发育过程和整个成年期都在不断变化。我们的数据强调了有必要在生物体的整个生命过程中研究其毒液，以揭示和理解毒液不断变化的功能以及所表达的毒素的全部范围。这反过来应该会加深对生物体生态学的理解，并增强生物发现的潜力。
