Heterologous Expression of an Insecticidal Peptide Obtained from the Transcriptome of the Colombian Spider Phoneutria depilate

Spider venoms are composed, among other substances, of peptide toxins whose selectivity for certain physiological targets has made them powerful tools applications such as bioinsecticides, analgesics, antiarrhythmics, antibacterials, antifungals and antimalarials, others. Bioinsecticides an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional agrochemicals. In this paper, the primary structure insecticidal was obtained from venom gland transcriptome ctenid spider Phoneutria depilata (Transcript ID PhdNtxNav24). The contains 53 amino acids, including 10 Cys residues that form 5 disulfide bonds. Using acid sequence peptide, a synthetic gene constructed de novo by overlapping PCRs cloned into expression vector. A recombinant named delta-ctenitoxin (rCtx-4), obtained. It expressed, folded, purified validated using mass spectrometry (7994.61 Da). activity rCtx-4 demonstrated through intrathoracic injection in crickets (LD50 1.2 μg/g insect) it not toxic mice. is potential bioinsecticide could have broad spectrum agriculture.