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 ...

Inter- and Intraspecific Variation in Web Architecture and Its Significance in Australian Funnel-Web Spiders (Atracidae)

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Inter- and Intraspecific Variation in Web Architecture and Its Significance in Australian Funnel-Web Spiders (Atracidae)

ABSTRACT

Web building is a defining trait of spiders, encompassing a remarkable diversity of architectures and functions. However, the order Mygalomorphae remains underrepresented compared to Araneomorphae, with limited research on their structural diversity and function. Mygalomorph designs provide valuable insights into the evolution of web-building and silk use in spiders. In this study, we described and quantified inter- and intraspecific variation in web architecture across three Atracidae species: Hadronyche cerberea, H. versuta and the Atrax robustus complex. Our research represents the first quantitative characterisation of web architecture within Atracidae. Using image-based morphometric analysis, we quantified structural traits that statistically differentiated web designs among species. In addition, we refined previous descriptions of their web structures through detailed qualitative accounts and schematic diagrams to enhance species identification and understanding of web architecture. Collectively, our findings revealed clear qualitative and quantitative differences among species, with several structural traits responsible for these variations. These results provide a foundation for exploring the ecological drivers and functional significance of web diversity in Atracidae, contributing to a broader understanding of mygalomorph evolution and behaviour.

Brown, N., & White, T. E. (2026). Inter- and Intraspecific Variation in Web Architecture and Its Significance in Australian Funnel-Web Spiders (Atracidae). Ecology and Evolution, 16(10), e74473. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.74473