Rational attenuation of elapid long-chain neurotoxin by targeted residue substitution and disulfide architecture simplification: implications for receptor interaction and immune recognition

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  Rational attenuation of elapid long-chain neurotoxin by targeted residue substitution and disulfide architecture simplification: implications for receptor interaction and immune recognition Abstract Elapid long-chain neurotoxins (LNTxs) exert their toxicity through high-affinity binding to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Specific residues mediate this process, including basic (Lys23, Arg33, Arg36, Lys49), structural (Cys26, Cys30), and aromatic (Phe29) amino acids. To investigate the functional and immunogenic implications of modifying these residues, we designed two recombinant variants of a consensus LNTx. The first variant, rLcNTx V1, contains charge-reversal mutations at four key basic positions, while the second, rLcNTx V2, lacks the segment corresponding to the fifth disulfide bond. We expressed both variants in Escherichia coli Origami cells. rLcNTx V1 was recovered in a soluble form, but rLcNTx V2 was present only in inclusion bodies. We assessed the binding ...

Assessment of the Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on Apoptosis and Stress Protein Biomarkers in the Spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum

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Assessment of the Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on Apoptosis and Stress Protein Biomarkers in the Spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum

Abstract

Electromagnetic fields (EMFs), increasingly prevalent due to technological advancements, have raised significant concerns regarding their potential biological effects on living organisms. While much attention has focused on human health, growing evidence suggests that EMFs can also affect invertebrates, which play vital ecological roles. This study investigates the biochemical and cell death biomarker responses to EMF exposure for 24 h or 72 h in Parasteatoda tepidariorum. The focus is placed on the 10 MHz frequency, which is relevant to environmental exposure scenarios. Biochemical biomarkers include heat shock proteins (HSP70) and the percentage of apoptotic and living cells in individuals at their embryonic, young and adult stages. Results indicate that exposure to EMFs can induce measurable stress responses at the biochemical level, with variations depending on developmental stage and protective structures. Embryos outside of the egg sac exhibited significantly elevated levels of HSP70 and apoptosis markers compared to those within the sac, suggesting a partial protective effect of the cocoons. Furthermore, differences in biomarker sensitivity were observed across all the developmental stages and increased with prolonged exposure. These findings contribute to the understanding of EMF-induced biological effects in invertebrates and support the use of P. tepidariorum as a model species for environmental electromagnetic pollution.

Porc, W., Rozpędek, K., Glenszczyk, M., Lis, A., & Babczyńska, A. (2026). Assessment of the Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on Apoptosis and Stress Protein Biomarkers in the Spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 27(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27094088