A model genetic system for testing the in vivo function of peptide toxins

We have developed a model genetic system for analyzing the function of peptide toxins from animal venoms. We engineered and propagated strains of Drosophila melanogaster expressing heat-inducible transgenes encoding either kappa-ACTX-Hv1c or omega-ACTX-Hv1a, two insect-specific neurotoxic peptides found in the venom of the Australian funnel-web spider Hadronyche versuta. Heat induction of transgene expression for 20 min was sufficient to kill all transgenic flies, indicating that the ion channels targeted by these toxins are viable insecticide targets. The unusual phenotype of flies induced to express omega-ACTX-Hv1a recapitulates that of a hypomorphic allele of the high-voltage-activated calcium channel Dmca1D, suggesting that this is likely to be the target of omega-ACTX-Hv1a.