Apomastus schlingeri (misnomer Aptostichus schlingeri) is a species of venomous spiders belonging to a family of trapdoor spiders. They produce a complex of neurotoxins called aptotoxins.[1] Both known species of the genus are found in the United States.[2]
| Apomastus schlingeri | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
| Family: | Euctenizidae |
| Genus: | Apomastus |
| Species: | A. schlingeri
|
| Binomial name | |
| Apomastus schlingeri Bond & Opell, 2002
| |
Venom edit
Apomastus schlingeri have a venom that is highly neurotoxic in effect. The neurotoxin is actually a complex of proteins called aptotoxins (Aps for short), which in turn belong to a group of neurotoxins called cyrtautoxins. There are at least nine different peptides, and most of them are directly paralytic and lethal to insect larvae.[3] All of the peptides are voltage-gated sodium channel blockers. To date, Aps III is known to be the most potent peptide of all.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b Bende NS, Kang E, Herzig V, Bosmans F, Nicholson GM, Mobli M, King GF (2013). "The insecticidal neurotoxin Aps III is an atypical knottin peptide that potently blocks insect voltage-gated sodium channels". Biochem Pharmacol. 85 (10): 1541–1554. doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2013.02.030. PMC 3654253. PMID 23473802.
- ^ "Apomastus schlingeri". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
- ^ Skinner WS, Dennis PA, Li JP, Quistad GB (1992). "Identification of insecticidal peptides from venom of the trap-door spider, Aptostichus schlingeri (Ctenizidae)". Toxicon. 30 (9): 1040–1053. doi:10.1016/0041-0101(92)90049-b. PMID 1440641.