Isolation of a Na v channel blocking polypeptide from Cyanea capillata medusae: A neurotoxin contained in fishing tentacle isorhizas

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

  • Stephan Lassen
  • Annika Wiebring
  • Heike Helmholz
  • Christiane Ruhnau
  • Andreas Prange

Jellyfish are efficient predators which prey on crabs, fish larvae, and small fish. Their venoms consist of various toxins including neurotoxins that paralyse prey organisms immediately. One possible mode of action of neurotoxins is the blockage of voltage-gated sodium (Na v) channels. A novel polypeptide with Na v channel blocking activity was isolated from the northern Scyphozoa Cyanea capillata (L., 1758). For that purpose, a bioactivity-guided multidimensional liquid chromatographic purification method has been developed. A neurotoxic activity of resulting chromatographic fractions was demonstrated by a bioassay, which based on the mouse neuroblastoma cell line Neuro2A. The purification process yielded one fraction containing a single polypeptide with proven activity. The molecular weight of 8.22kDa was determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF MS). Utilising Laser Microdissection and Pressure Catapulting (LMPC) for the separation of different nematocyst types in combination with direct MALDI-ToF MS analysis of the intact capsules, the neurotoxin was found to be present in all types of fishing tentacle isorhizas (A-isorhizas, a-isorhizas, O-isorhizas) of C. capillata medusae.

Original languageEnglish
JournalToxicon
Volume59
Issue number6
Pages (from-to)610-616
Number of pages7
ISSN0041-0101
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 05.2012

    Research areas

  • Chemistry - Cyanea, Jellyfish, Mass spectrometry, Nematocysts, Neurotoxin