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To facilitate the study of the mechanism of alpha-latrotoxin action, it is necessary to create a biologically active recombinant toxin. Mature alpha-latrotoxin is naturally produced by post-translational cleavage, probably at two furin sites located at the N- and C-termini of the precursor. A recombinant baculovirus has now been constructed, which encodes the melittin signal peptide fused to the 130-kDa mature toxin between the furin sites. Insect cells, infected with this baculovirus, secreted recombinant alpha-latrotoxin. This was partially purified and proved indistinguishable from the natural toxin with respect to its molecular mass, immunostaining, toxicity to mice, binding to alpha-latrotoxin receptors (latrophilin or neurexin Ialpha) and electrophysiological recording in the mouse diaphragm. The successful expression of recombinant alpha-latrotoxin permits mutational analysis of the toxin.

A number of invertebrate venoms have been tested for effects on M-type K+ currents (IK(M)) in differentiated mouse neuroblastoma X rat glioma NG108-15 cells. Among the venoms tested, Buthus eupeus scorpion venom reversibly inhibited IK(M) by approximately 44% at 50 microgram/ml. Inhibition was not due to activation of bradykinin or nucleotide (pyrimidine) receptors. On venom fractionation, a polypeptide of 4 kDa was purified that inhibited IK(M) by approximately 45% with an IC50 of approximately 33 nM. Neither the crude venom nor the purified polypeptide affected the Ca2+ current or the delayed rectifier K+ current. While the crude venom prolonged the Na+ current, the polypeptide did not. Thus, the 4 kDa Buthus eupeus polypeptide appears to be a selective inhibitor of IK(M) in NG108-15 cells.

We have studied [14C]GABA release from synaptosomes induced by native and monoclonal antibodies-modified alpha-latrotoxin (LTX). Modification of LTX eliminates the toxin's ability to increase [Ca2+]i influx into synaptosomes. It has been shown that native LTX does not change 22Na influx into rat brain synaptosomes. Both toxin forms studied, native and modified by monoclonal antibodies, stimulate [14C]GABA release from synaptosomes in divalent-free medium where sodium was substituted by equimolar concentrations of choline chloride. Native toxin induces a more rapid stimulation of [14C]GABA release than the modified one. It was suggested that the difference in the mediator release rates is not accounted for by the inability of modified toxin to form active ion channels in synaptosomal plasmalemma, but most probably by the state of toxin-receptor complexes.

Ectatomin (Ea) is a newly isolated main toxic component of Ectatomma tuberculatum ant venom. Structural and electrophysiological studies were performed with purified Ea. The protein consists of two homologous polypeptide chains (37 and 34 residues) and forms a four alpha-helix bundle in aqueous solution. On insertion into artificial bilayer membranes, two Ea molecules form an ion pore. Our results suggest that the 'inside-out' mechanism of pore formation requires a significant movement of Ea helical parts. The pore formation in the cell membrane might well explain the toxic activity of Ea, not excluding at the same time its intracellular activities.

We have studied the action of an alpha-latrotoxin (alpha-LTX) complex of two polypeptides (LTX 130 kDa and low molecular weight protein (LMWP) 8 kDa) and the action of a venom fraction containing LTX with excess LMWP on calcium influx into synaptosomes and PC12 cells as well as on [14C]GABA release from synaptosomes. Both preparations considerably activate calcium influx and stimulate [14C]GABA release from synaptosomes. Preincubation of both preparations with antibodies against a 14 amino acid residue C-terminal peptide of LMWP differentially modulates these effects. Antibodies inhibit induced calcium influx and enhance induced GABA release.

Recent experiments have identified interactions between presynaptic and synaptic vesicle membrane proteins, that might be important in organizing the components of the fast neurotransmitter release mechanism to ensure that the process follows a rapid time course. Here we extend previous investigations to show that in addition to the alpha-latrotoxin receptor (neurexin) and synaptotagmin another presynaptic protein, syntaxin, co-purifies on a alpha-latrotoxin affinity column. This implies that syntaxin is associated with these two molecules in a complex; a conclusion supported by the immunoprecipitation of [125I]latrotoxin binding by syntaxin antibodies. In addition, antibodies against syntaxin and the alpha-latrotoxin receptor immunoprecipitate [125I]omega-conotoxin binding sites, indicating that calcium channels are associated with this complex. Thus, neurexin, synaptotagmin, syntaxin, and calcium channels can be found in a structure we propose to call the 'synaptosecretosome'. The components of the synaptosecretosome, in association with additional proteins, are postulated to organize the process of neurotransmitter release.

In bovine brain cortex cytoplasm we have identified a soluble protein (L-protein) of M(r) approximately 90 kDa interacting with polyclonal antibodies to alpha-latrotoxin. The L-protein forms potential-dependent and cation-selective ion channels in BLM, which are blocked by Cd2+. The fusogenic activity of the L-protein was demonstrated on liposomes. We have arrived at the conclusion that the action mechanisms of the L-protein and alpha-latrotoxin are similar.

cDNA encoding the putative alpha-latrotoxin precursor was isolated from spider venom glands cDNA library and sequenced. The cDNA contained the 4203 base-pair open reading frame corresponding to the 156,855-Da protein composed of 1401 amino acids. Computer analysis of the deduced primary structure revealed the presence of various internal imperfect repeats mainly in its central and C-terminal regions.