Isolation of a Nav channel blocking polypeptide from Cyanea capillata medusae – A neurotoxin contained in fishing tentacle isorhizas

Abstract

Jellyfish are efficient predators which prey on crabs, fish larvae, and small fish. Their venoms consist of various toxins including neurotoxins that paralyse prey organisms immediately. One possible mode of action of neurotoxins is the blockage of voltage-gated sodium (Na v) channels. A novel polypeptide with Na v channel blocking activity was isolated from the northern Scyphozoa Cyanea capillata (L., 1758). For that purpose, a bioactivity-guided multidimensional liquid chromatographic purification method has been developed. A neurotoxic activity of resulting chromatographic fractions was demonstrated by a bioassay, which based on the mouse neuroblastoma cell line Neuro2A. The purification process yielded one fraction containing a single polypeptide with proven activity. The molecular weight of 8.22 kDa was determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF MS). Utilising Laser Microdissection and Pressure Catapulting (LMPC) for the separation of different nematocyst types in combination with direct MALDI-ToF MS analysis of the intact capsules, the neurotoxin was found to be present in all types of fishing tentacle isorhizas (A-isorhizas, a-isorhizas, O-isorhizas) of C. capillata medusae.

Acute lion's mane jellyfish, Cyanea capillata (Cnideria: Scyphozoa), exposure to Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

“…Some fish also showed hyperactivity, jumping and occasional lateral convulsions consistent with potential neurotoxicity and loss of equilibrium. As C. capillata venom contains voltage‐gated sodium channel blocking neurotoxins (Lassen et al., ), this response would not be unexpected. However, for fish welfare reasons, the exposure was terminated after 2 hr.…”

“…The gill cell toxicity of the venom from C. capillata and A. aurita has been examined in vitro using RTgill‐W1 cells (Helmholz, Johnston, Ruhnau, & Prange, ); however, these assays do not demonstrate the pathological effects on envenomated fish. As the venom mix from C. capillata has cytotoxic (Phospholipase A 2 ‐like activity; Helmholz, Ruhnau, Schütt, & Prange, ), neurotoxic (blocking Na v channels; Lasson, Weibring, Helmholz, Ruhnau, & Prange, ), hemolytic (CcTX‐1; Lassen, Helmholz, Ruhnau, & Prange, ) and systemic cardiovascular (Liang et al., ; Uvnäs, ; Wang et al., ) effects, the pathological responses of Atlantic salmon to envenomation are likely to involve a complex suite of pathologies.…”

In vitro characterization of jellyfish venom fibrin(ogen)olytic enzymes from Nemopilema nomurai

“…Several reports have demonstrated that jellyfish venom consists of various bioactive substances, including cytolysins, neurotoxins, peptides and proteases [13, 20, 26–28]. Unlike other venoms (snake, scorpion and spider), jellyfish venom is not secreted from venom glands or injected through specialized nematocysts that are present all over the cnidarians.…”

Bioactive toxins from stinging jellyfish

“…Amino acid sequences are available for some purified toxins (Brinkman et al, 2014;Lassen et al, 2011Lassen et al, , 2012Li et al, 2012). DNA and RNA sequencing have been conducted for Carukia barnesi, Malo kingi (Avila Soria, 2009), and Aurelia aurita.…”