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Spider toxins activate the capsaicin receptor to produce inflammatory pain

Three peptides isolated from the venom of the West Indian tarantula Psalmopoeus cambridgei have been found to promote pain and inflammation by activating the same neuronal receptor as capsaicin, the hot component of chilli peppers. This suggests that tarantulas and chillis use similar tactics to det...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Siemens, Jan (Author) , Zhou, Sharleen (Author) , Piskorowski, Rebecca (Author) , Nikai, Tetsuro (Author) , Lumpkin, Ellen A. (Author) , Basbaum, Allan I. (Author) , King, David (Author) , Julius, David (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 09 November 2006
In: Nature
Year: 2006, Volume: 444, Issue: 7116, Pages: 208-212
ISSN:1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/nature05285
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05285
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://www.nature.com/articles/nature05285
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Author Notes:Jan Siemens, Sharleen Zhou, Rebecca Piskorowski, Tetsuro Nikai, Ellen A. Lumpkin, Allan I. Basbaum, David King, David Julius
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Summary:Three peptides isolated from the venom of the West Indian tarantula Psalmopoeus cambridgei have been found to promote pain and inflammation by activating the same neuronal receptor as capsaicin, the hot component of chilli peppers. This suggests that tarantulas and chillis use similar tactics to deter predators. The newly discovered peptides are also unusual because they trigger an excitatory response. Peptides with similar structures that bind to other ion channels are already known, but are inhibitory.
Item Description:Gesehen am 06.12.2021
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1476-4687
DOI:10.1038/nature05285

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