Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Extraction of Venom and Venom Gland Microdissections from Spiders for Proteomic and Transcriptomic Analyses
Published on: November 3, 2014
Solid-phase synthesis and biological evaluation of Joro spider toxin-4 from Nephila clavata
Anne F Barslund1, Mette H Poulsen, Tinna B Bach
1Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract:
Polyamine toxins from orb weaver spiders are attractive pharmacological tools particularly for studies of ionotropic glutamate (iGlu) receptors in the brain. These polyamine toxins are biosynthesized in a combinatorial manner, providing a plethora of related, but structurally complex toxins to be exploited in biological studies. Here, we have used solid-phase synthetic methodology for the efficient synthesis of Joro spider toxin-4 (JSTX-4) (1) from Nephila clavata, providing sufficient amounts of the toxin for biological evaluation at iGlu receptor subtypes using electrophysiology. Biological evaluation revealed that JSTX-4 inhibits iGlu receptors only in high μM concentrations, thereby being substantially less potent than structurally related polyamine toxins.
Related Concept Videos
Bacterial Toxins
Types of Toxins
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Production of Biopesticides
Bioactivation and Tissue Toxicity

