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Mee, Christopher (2002) Molecular Genetic Analysis of the alpha-latrotoxin Receptor Latrophilin in the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

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Abstract

The venom of the black widow spider (BWSV) uniquely contains a family of high

molecular weight proteins that cause uncontrolled vesicle release in synapses. Two

membrane receptors for BWSV have been identified, one of these being

latrophilin/CIRL (LPH), a member of the G-protein coupled receptor superfamily of

cell-signalling receptors and the other being neurexin. In mammals, LPH and neurexin

have been shown to bind BWSV, but their function is unclear.

We established C.elegans as a model system for studying the effects of BWSV by

microinjection of venom into wild-type (N2) C.elegans, which showed that the venom had

an acute lethal effect over a million-fold range of concentrations. BWSV treated with

SDS (0.1%) or heat before injection reduced the kill rate in N2 C.elegans to zero, this

suggests that the active component of the venom is a protein. FPLC of BWSV

demonstrated that the active component of BWSV toxic to C.elegans resembles epsilon-

latroinsectotoxin. Identification of a homologue of the latrophilin gene in C.elegans,

BO457.1, induced a functional knockout of the latrophilin gene by RNA interference

(RNAi). The knockout was examined for a change in phenotype, which occurred in

RNAi treated worms, compared to N2, and was extensively characterised. LPH knockout

C.elegans were completely resistant to the lethal effects of BWSV over the same

concentration range as that used in the N2 worms, whereas RNAi of CYP37A1,

BO286.2 and neurexin 1alpha homologue has no effect on BWSV toxicity.

We have shown that a C.elegans latrophilin homologue mediates the toxic effects of black

widow spider venom in the nematode and identified a high molecular weight latrotoxin

that kills C.elegans. Additionally, the data provide evidence for an important role of LPH

in nerve cell function.

Item Type:	Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (PhD)
Supervisors:	Bell, David
Subjects:	Q Science > QP Physiology > QP501 Animal biochemistry
Faculties/Schools:	UK Campuses > Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Biology > Former School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Item ID:	10403
Depositing User:	EP, Services
Date Deposited:	23 Jan 2008
Last Modified:	15 Oct 2017 10:08
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/10403

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