Comparative analysis of Araneidae venoms and toxins: chemical structures and electrophysiological effects

The aim of present study was to conduct a comparative analysis of electrophysiological characteristics for venoms and toxins of two species (Nephila clavata and Argiope lobate) of spiders (Araneidae) that could be useful for laboratory practice and future investigations. Their venoms and toxins function as antagonists of glutamate receptors, and these substances were used successfully for investigations of membrane structures. The results of the electrophysiological studies of the venoms and toxins are presented for the venom from N. clavata and its main active component toxin JSTX-3, and for the venom from A. lobata and its three toxins – argiopin AR, argiopinin 1 (ARN-1), argiopinin 2 (ARN-2). The qualitative and quantitative analysis of the correlations between the electrophysiological effects of studied toxins’ and chemical structures of their molecules is presented. The problems of complexity of venoms’ composition and whe­ther venoms’ properties are determined completely by the main active components are discussed. The role of JSTX-3 as a “universal marker of glutamatergic synapses” in different species of fauna are also discussed.