title: Hemolytic and toxic properties of Hydra attenuata nematocysts.
abstract: Crude extract prepared from isolated and purified nematocysts (stenoteles, desmonemes, isorhizas) of Hydra attenuata Pall. (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) contains two main toxic proteins. The first is a hemolysin (100-200,000 mol.wt) which also causes initial spasmodic contractions in larval and adult specimens of Drosophila. Both, hemolytic and neurotoxic activities are inhibited by low concentrations of Triton X-100. The second protein (30-100,000 mol.wt), which is not susceptible to Triton causes long lasting paralysis leading to death of the test animals (LD50 approximately 5 mg crude nematocyst extract per kg). Neither of the toxins is identical with the previously described phospholipase.
authors.affiliation: Zoological Institute, University Zürich-Irchel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klug
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tardent
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D004330:Drosophila; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D006829:Hydra / Q000032:analysis*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D013997:Time Factors; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D008387:Marine Toxins; D014020:Tissue Extracts; D003208:Concanavalin A