The scientists then employed two high-tech methods -- proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry and mass spectrometry -- that enabled them to look at the molecular structure of compounds, in this case, right down to their most basic components. Although black widow and recluse spiders equally terrify most people, the scientists found that their venoms are very different. "Our results show that black widow venom does not contain sulfated nucleosides," said Schroeder. Instead, it seems that one of the hourglass-marked spider's most important venom ingredients is the deadly neurotoxin latrotoxin, which can invade a bite victim's cardiovascular system, as well as the muscles and nervous system. The research "nicely demonstrates that molecules can be identified from mixtures without the often large amount of work involved in purification," said Arthur Edison, director of the Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy Facility and an associate professor at the University of Florida. In fact, he pointed out that conventional purification methods would destroy the newly identified compounds, so the spectrometry method may be the best, and only, way to study such venoms. Schroeder, who said he had spiders crawling on his laboratory notebooks during the research, can now create synthetic versions of the venoms, which will be used in future studies. Related Links: Jennifer Viegas' blog: Born Animal |
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