latrotoxin
English edit
Etymology edit
Blend of Latrodectus and toxin.
Noun edit
latrotoxin (plural latrotoxins)
- (biochemistry) Any of a group of neurotoxins found in the venom of spiders of the genus Latrodectus.
- 2007, Melissa A. Bogle, “5: Bites and Stings”, in Kenneth A. Arndt, Jeffrey T. S. Hsu, editors, Manual of Dermatologic Therapeutics, page 37:
- The black widow spider injects a neurotoxin called α-latrotoxin in its venom, which causes the release of acetylcholine and catecholamines at the neuromuscular junction.
- 2011, Graham M. Nicholson, “Chapter 54: Spider Venom Peptides”, in Abba J. Kastin, editor, Handbook of Biologically Active Peptides, page 377:
- At present, seven different latrotoxins have been isolated from the venom of L. tredecimguttatus.
- 2011, Juan M. Pascual, “44: Disorders of Muscle Excitability”, in Scott Brady, George Siegel, R. Wayne Albers, Donald Price, editors, Basic Neurochemistry, page 797:
- These toxins are produced by black or brown widow spiders from the genus Latrodectus and are directed predominantly against vertebrates (α-LTX), although five homologous insect-specific latrotoxins and one crustacean-specific latrotoxin coexist in the venom of Latrodectus mactans tredecimguttans.