title: Evidence for a high molecular weight pre-robustoxin molecule in the venom of the male Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus).
abstract: Robustoxin is the lethal polypeptide toxin in Atrax robustus venom. A monoclonal antibody was produced using synthetic, unfolded robustoxin conjugated to keyhole limpet haemocyanin as the immunogen. This monoclonal antibody did not protect newborn mice against challenge with the crude venom of the male Sydney funnel-web spider, but did slightly prolong their survival time. Western blotted crude venom of the male Sydney funnel-web spider showed two monoclonal antibody binding bands. One band at low M(r) corresponded to robustoxin (M(r) 4854), while the other higher M(r) band (approximately 37,000) may be due to a pre-robustoxin molecule.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Comis
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Tyler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Howden
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D000941:Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D008974:Mollusca / Q000378:metabolism; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D001098:Spider Bites / Q000276:immunology; D013111:Spider Venoms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013112:Spiders
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000941:Antigens; D009498:Neurotoxins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D013111:Spider Venoms; D006433:Hemocyanins; C044536:robustoxin; C032808:keyhole-limpet hemocyanin