[Neurotoxin of the black widow spider and its interaction with receptors from the rat brain].

A presynaptic neurotoxin isolated from the venom of the Central Asia spider karakurt (Black Widow Spider, Latrodectus mactans tredecimguttatus) is shown to consist of two identical subunits of mol. weight about 118 kDa. The iodinated neurotoxin binds to the rat brain synaptosomal plasma membranes with Kd 0.1 nM (Bmax 0.1 pmol/mg of protein) at 37 degrees C, and with Kd 0.35 nM (Bmax 0.2 pmol/mg of protein) at 5 degrees C. At intermediate temperatures both types of receptors are detectable. It is supposed that the dimeric form of the toxin interacts with a single class of receptors possessing lateral mobility in the membrane. By the use of different bifunctional reagents it is revealed that the neurotoxin interacts with a presynaptic membrane protein of mol. weight 95 kDa. A protein of the same size accompanied by a 71 kDa protein was isolated by the affinity chromatography of solubilized synaptosomal membranes on the absorbent, containing immobilized neurotoxin.