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The black widow's versatile venom

Nature Structural Biology volume 7, pages 3–4 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

The structure of a tetrameric form of the spider neurotoxin, α-latrotoxin, has been determined by single particle cryo-electron microscopy. It reveals a pore complex with extended arms that could bind receptors involved in synaptic vesicle exocytosis.

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Figure 1: Schematic diagram of a synapse, with components of transmitter vesicle exocytosis.
Figure 2: Cryo-EM reconstruction of the latrotoxin tetramer in a, top and b, side view.
Figure 3: Model of the latrotoxin tetramer (cut open to reveal the channel) in the membrane bilayer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Department of Crystallography, Birkbeck College, Malet Street, London, London, WC1E 7HX, UK

    Helen R. Saibil

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  1. Helen R. Saibil
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Saibil, H. The black widow's versatile venom. Nat Struct Mol Biol 7, 3–4 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/71190

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