title: Hydralysin, a novel animal group-selective paralytic and cytolytic protein from a noncnidocystic origin in hydra.
abstract: In Cnidaria, the production of neurotoxic polypeptides is attributed to the ectodermal stinging cells (cnidocytes), which are discharged for offensive (prey capture) and/or defensive purposes. In this study, a new paralysis-inducing (neurotoxic) protein from the green hydra Chlorohydra viridissima was purified, cloned, and expressed. This paralytic protein is unique in that it (1) is derived from a noncnidocystic origin, (2) reveals a clear animal group-selective toxicity, (3) possesses an uncommon primary structure, remindful of pore-forming toxins, and (4) has a fast cytotoxic effect on insect cells but not on the tested mammalian cells. The possible biological role of such a noncnidocystic toxin is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Animal Biology, Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.
authors.forename: Mingliang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yelena
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fishman
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sher
authors.forename: Eliahu
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zlotkin
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003064:Cnidarian Venoms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D003532:Cyprinodontiformes; D004175:Diptera / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006829:Hydra / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D033321:Isopoda / Q000187:drug effects; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D013045:Species Specificity; D018411:Spodoptera; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D003064:Cnidarian Venoms; D009498:Neurotoxins; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D014020:Tissue Extracts; C478478:hydralysin