Partial purification and characterization of a novel neurotoxin and three cytolysins from box jellyfish (Carybdea marsupialis) nematocyst venom

Abstract

This paper describes one neurotoxin and three cytolysins isolated from the venom of the Caribbean box jellyfish Carybdea marsupialis. To assess the cytolytic and neurotoxic activity of the nematocyst venom, several bioassays were carried out, and to evaluate the effect of the toxin, the dose causing 50% lethality (LD(50)) was determined in vivo using sea crabs (Ocypode quadrata). The proteins with neurotoxic and cytolytic effects were isolated using low-pressure liquid chromatography. The fraction containing the neurotoxic activity was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and showed a single protein band with an apparent molecular weight of 120 kDa (CmNt). To demonstrate the neurotoxic activity of this protein, a small fraction of the purified protein was injected into a crab, and the typical convulsions, paralysis, and death provoked by neurotoxins were observed. Three fractions containing cytolysins had protein bands in SDS PAGE with apparent molecular weights of 220, 139, and 36 kDa, and their cytolytic activity was confirmed with the haemolysis assay.

First records ofCarybdea marsupialisproliferation (Cnidaria: Cubozoa) along the eastern Tunisian coast (Central Mediterranean)

“…behaviour and ecology Nogueira & Haddad 2008;Acevedo et al 2013;Kingsford & Mooney 2014), while the effects of its toxin have been studied to a greater degree. Bathers stung by C. marsupialis are reported to have suffered from severe local pain, cutaneous reactions, characterized by erythematous-vascular linear wheals, and an intense burning sensation (Kokelj et al 1992;Rottini et al 1995;Peca et al 1997;Sánchez-Rodríguez et al 2006;Bordehore et al 2014). Public health problems triggered by C. marsupialis stings represent a threat for tourism activities and other local coastal socio-economic activities, in view of the high abundance of the same species during blooming events.…”

“…In spite of records of C. marsupialis from the tropical and subtropical regions of the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea (Bigelow 1938;Kramp 1961;Studebaker 1972;Sánchez-Rodríguez et al 2006) and Californian waters (Larson & Arneson 1990), in the light of recent morphologic and genetic analyses results (Acevedo et al in preparation), C. marsupialis seems to be an endemic species for the Mediterranean Sea, with its type locality being the Northern Adriatic (coastal waters in close proximity to Rimini along the Italian coastline) (Gershwin 2005).…”

Characterisation of neurotoxic polypeptides from Cyanea capillata medusae (Scyphozoa)

“…Generally, neurotoxins from jellyfish are not well characterised. Sanchez-Rodriguez et al (2006) isolated a 120-kDa protein from the cubomedusa Carybdea marsupialis (L.) with a strong neurotoxic activity on marine crabs (Ocypode quadrata (Fabricius)). Large venom proteins could be aggregates of smaller molecules that agglomerate as a result of non-covalent interactions during purification steps.…”

Marine Protein Toxins

“…CARTOX was shown to possess potent hemolytic activity; however, the precise features of CARTOX giving rise to this activity have not been reported to date. A proteinaceous neurotoxin was also isolated from a Caribbean C. marsupialis, and the existence of some cytolysin was demonstrated [36]. However, once again, a precise characterization of Caribbean C. marsupialis toxin has not been reported to date.…”