NMR-spectroscopic screening of spider venom reveals sulfated nucleosides as major components for the brown recluse and related species.

ABSTRACT: Extensive chemical analyses of spider venoms from many species have revealed complex mixtures of biologically active compounds, of which several have provided important leads for drug development. We have recently shown that NMR spectroscopy can be used advantageously for a direct structural characterization of the small-molecule content of such complex mixtures. Here, we report the application of this strategy to a larger-scale analysis of a collection of spider venoms representing >70 species, which, in combination with mass spectrometric analyses, allowed the identification of a wide range of known, and several previously undescribed, small molecules. These include polyamines, common neurotransmitters, and amino acid derivatives as well as two additional members of a recently discovered

SUBMITTER: Schroeder FC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2567178 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature