This volume explores techniques and protocols, across various biological disciplines, used to study snake and spider peptide toxins. The chapters in this book are organized into four parts and cover topics such as the use of toxins in drug development; analysis of bioactivity of complex mixtures like venom; extraction of venom glands and the production of toxins; characterization of toxins from the RNA level to the peptide structure; and the determination of the toxin’s biological function. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.
Cutting-edge and thorough, Snake and Spider Toxins: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for both novice and expert researchers who are interested in learning more about this evolving field.
1. Snake- and Spider-Venom-Derived Toxins as Lead Compounds for Drug Development Philip Lazarovici
2. Analytics for Bioactivity Profiling of Complex Mixtures with a Focus on Venoms Marija Mladic, Wilfried M.A. Niessen, Govert W. Somsen, and Jeroen Kool
Part II Toxins Purification and Production
3. Venom Collection from Spiders and Snakes: Voluntary and Involuntary Extractions (“Milking”) and Venom Gland Extractions William K. Hayes, Gerad A. Fox, and David R. Nelsen
4. Production and Purification of Recombinant Toxins Matan Geron
Part III Toxins Characterization
5. RNA-Sequencing of Snake Venom Glands Khin Than Yee, Olga Vasieva, and Ponlapat Rojnuckarin
6. Exploring Toxin Evolution: Venom Protein Transcript Sequencing and Transcriptome-Guided High-Throughput Proteomics Cassandra M. Modahl, Jordi Durban, and Stephen P. Mackessy
7. Three-Dimensional Structure Determination of Peptides using Solution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Christina I. Schroeder and K. Johan Rosengren
8. Determining the Structures of the Snake and Spider Toxins by X-Rays Anwar Ullah, Rehana Masood, Zafar Hayat, and Ahmed Hafeez
9. MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometric Profiling of Spider Venoms Ondrej Šedo, Stano Pekár, and Zbyněk Zdráhal
Part IV Characterization of Toxins Function
10. Methods for Evaluation of a Snake Venom Derived Disintegrin in Animal Models of Human Cancer Stephen D. Swenson, Catalina Silva-Hirschberg, and Francis S. Markland
11. Cell-Based Adhesion Assays for Isolation of Snake Venom's Integrin Antagonists Philip Lazarovici, Cezary Marcinkiewicz, and Peter I. Lelkes
12. Using C. elegans to Study the Effects of Toxins in Sensory Ion Channels In Vivo Valeria Vásquez
13. Measurements of Cell Death Induced by Snake and Spider’s Venoms and Derived Toxins Yossi Maatuf, Avi Priel and Philip Lazarovici
14. Using Toxins in Brain Slice Recordings Alexey Bingor and Rami Yaka
15. High-Throughput Calcium Imaging Screen of Toxins’ Function in Dissociated Sensory Neurons Yossi Maatuf and Avi Priel
16. Synthesizing and Expressing Native Ion Channels Shana L. Geffeney and Charles T. Hanifin
This volume explores techniques and protocols, across various biological disciplines, used to study snake and spider peptide toxins. The chapters in this book are organized into four parts and cover topics such as the use of toxins in drug development; analysis of bioactivity of complex mixtures like venom; extraction of venom glands and the production of toxins; characterization of toxins from the RNA level to the peptide structure; and the determination of the toxin’s biological function. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.
Cutting-edge and thorough, Snake and Spider Toxins: Methods and Protocols is a valuable resource for both novice and expert researchers who are interested in learning more about this evolving field.