Protein toxins from tarantula venom alter the activity of diverse ion channel proteins, including voltage, stretch, and ligand-activated cation channels. Although tarantula toxins have been shown to partition into membranes, and the membrane is thought to play an important role in their activity, the structural interactions between these toxins and lipid membranes are poorly understood. Here, w...

cDNA clones comprising the entire coding region of two out of the seven heterogeneous subunits of hemocyanin from the tarantula, Eurypelma californicum, were isolated from four cDNA libraries constructed from total RNA from the heart tissue of single spiders. Hybridization was first carried out using a tarantula hemocyanin subunit e partial cDNA, and several positive clones were isolated, inclu...

Spontaneous and evoked release of transmitter at neuromuscular junctions in three different leg muscles of a tarantula (Dugesiella hentzi) was investigated. In most cases the spontaneous miniature potentials were released independently, although bursts from single synaptic junctions occasionally occurred. In contrast to recent findings in other arthropod muscles, focal extracellular recording f...

In sexually cannibalistic species, selection is thought to have favoured the evolution of male approaching behaviour that reduces the probability that the female will kill the male. However, investigations of behaviours that could reduce the probability of sexual cannibalism are few. We examine the hypothesis that male wolf spiders, Lycosa tarantula (L.) (Araneae, Lycosidae), decides to approac...

The peptide toxin GsAF II (Kappa-theraphotoxin-Gr2c) is a 31-amino acid peptide, recently isolated from the venom of the tarantula spider Grammostola rosea. The peptide toxin ProTX II (β/ω-theraphotoxin-Tp2a), is a 30-amino acid peptide toxin recently isolated from the venom of the tarantula spider Thrixopelma pruriens. The GsAF II and ProTX II have similar sequence but have an impact on differ...

Theraphosid tarantulas, like all other spiders, secrete silk from spigots on the abdominal spinnerets. A few years ago, it was proposed that the large tarantula Aphonopelma seemanni could extrude silk from specialized spigots on the tarsi to help adhesion to vertical surfaces. This suggestion was later questioned because silk was not observed after the spinnerets had been sealed. Recently, expe...

1. Evidence for reproductive senescence in invertebrate natural populations is scant probably because most groups are short-lived or because they lack natural markers of age. 2. Lycosa tarantula (L.) (the Mediterranean Tarantula) (Araneae, Lycosidae) is a slowly ageing burrowing wolf spider, in which females can reproduce for two consecutive seasons. Females in their first reproductive season (...

Tarantula venom glands produce a large variety of bioactive peptides. Here we present the identification of venom components obtained by sequencing clones isolated from a cDNA library prepared from the venom glands of the Chilean common tarantula, Grammostola rosea. The cDNA sequences of about 1500 clones out of 4000 clones were analyzed after selection using several criteria. Forty-eight novel...

Controversial views have been expressed about whether tarantula feet can secrete fine silk threads that could prevent them from falling off smooth vertical surfaces. Two studies have claimed that 'ribbed hairs' on the tarsi of tarantulas produce silk. We examined these ribbed hairs in several tarantula species using light and scanning electron microscopy, and compared them with the silk-produci...