Venoms of the Sicariidae spider family contain phospholipase D (PLD) enzyme toxins that can cause severe dermonecrosis and even death in humans. PLD toxins are known to cleave the substrates sphingomyelin (SM) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) in mammalian tissues, releasing a choline headgroup and a reported monoester phospholipid formed via a hydrolytic reaction. However, some PLD toxins have demonstrated the ability to utilize substrates besides SM and LPC and other PLD toxins have demonstrated no activity against either SM or LPC. Given that the etiology of the disease state following envenomation is not well understood, we postulated that PLD toxins could be utilizing other phospholipid substrates in vivo. To determine the level of promiscuity among the PLD toxins, we developed a novel ³¹P-NMR assay to measure phospholipase activity against a panel of potential phospholipid substrates. While developing the assay, we made the surprising discovery that recombinant PLD toxins, as well as whole venoms from diverse Sicariidae species, exclusively generates cyclic phosphate rather than hydrolytic products. We also found that a distantly related PLD toxin from a pathogenic bacterium, with low sequence identity to the spider PLDs, exclusively generates cyclic phosphate products. We then established that St_βIB1i, a PLD with extremely diminished activity toward SM and LPC, actually demonstrates large preferential specificity towards ethanolamine phospholipid substrates. We solved the crystal structure of St_βIB1i to compare to PLD toxins of known structure, toward an understanding of the molecular basis of substrate specificity. The cyclic phosphate products generated by the PLD toxins have extremely different biochemical properties than their monoester counterparts and may be relevant to the pathology following envenomation or bacterial infection. In addition the specificity St_βIB1i has for ethanolamine substrates may have biological implications, as insects have high concentrations of ethanolamine-containing phospholipids.

Os envenenamentos por aranhas das espécies L. laeta, L. intermedia e L. gaucho, podem causar dermonecrose e efeitos sistêmicos. O principal componente tóxico do veneno destas apresenta atividade de esfingomielinase D (SMase D). O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar o potencial neutralizante do novo soro anti-SMases D recombinantes e do soro anti-Aracnídico contra os efeitos tóxicos dos três venenos. A análise por \"Western blot\" revelou que o anti-Aracnídico reconheceu a maioria dos componentes presentes nos três venenos, enquanto o anti-SMases D reconheceu apenas os componentes de 30-35 kDa, correspondente às isoformas nativas de SMases D. Por ELISA, verificou-se que o soro anti-SMases D contém títulos superiores de IgGT, IgGa, b e c e. Nos testes de soroneutralização, o soro anti-SMases D tem melhor atividade inibitória sobre as atividades dermonecrótica, hemolítica e esfingomielinásica dos venenos de L. intermedia e L. laeta. Para o veneno de L. gaucho, o soro anti-Aracnídico teve resultados similares ou melhores. Embora o soro anti-SMases D apresente um significante potencial neutralizante é necessária a inclusão da SMase D do veneno de L. gaucho para a obtenção de um anti-soro eficaz contra estes venenos. / Envenomation by spiders of species L. laeta, L. intermedia and L. gaucho causes local dermonecrosis and systemic effects. The main toxic component is endowed with sphingomyelinase D (SMase D) activity. The aim of this study was to compare the neutralization potentials of the anti-SMases D and the anti-arachnidic sera, against the toxic effects of venoms of these three species. The analysis by western blot has revealed that the anti-arachnidic serum was able to recognize the majority of the components present on the venoms of the three species, but anti-SMases D has recognized only components of 30-35 kDa, which corresponds to natives SMases D. By ELISA, it has been determined that the anti-SMases D serum contains higher titres of IgGT, IgGa, b and c than the anti-arachnidic serum. Serum neutralization tests have showed that the anti-SMases D serum has better inhibitory shingomyelinasic, dermonecrotic and haemolytic activities of the venoms from L. intermedia and L. laeta. For L. gaucho venom, the results have been similar or better than the anti-arachnidic serum. Although the anti-SMases D serum shows a significant neutralization potential, it is necessary the inclusion of a SMase D from L. gaucho venom, to obtain a efficient antiserum against this venom.

Os envenenamentos por aranhas das espécies L. laeta, L. intermedia e L. gaucho, podem causar dermonecrose e efeitos sistêmicos. O principal componente tóxico do veneno destas apresenta atividade de esfingomielinase D (SMase D). O objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar o potencial neutralizante do novo soro anti-SMases D recombinantes e do soro anti-Aracnídico contra os efeitos tóxicos dos três venenos. A análise por \"Western blot\" revelou que o anti-Aracnídico reconheceu a maioria dos componentes presentes nos três venenos, enquanto o anti-SMases D reconheceu apenas os componentes de 30-35 kDa, correspondente às isoformas nativas de SMases D. Por ELISA, verificou-se que o soro anti-SMases D contém títulos superiores de IgGT, IgGa, b e c e. Nos testes de soroneutralização, o soro anti-SMases D tem melhor atividade inibitória sobre as atividades dermonecrótica, hemolítica e esfingomielinásica dos venenos de L. intermedia e L. laeta. Para o veneno de L. gaucho, o soro anti-Aracnídico teve resultados similares ou melhores. Embora o soro anti-SMases D apresente um significante potencial neutralizante é necessária a inclusão da SMase D do veneno de L. gaucho para a obtenção de um anti-soro eficaz contra estes venenos. / Envenomation by spiders of species L. laeta, L. intermedia and L. gaucho causes local dermonecrosis and systemic effects. The main toxic component is endowed with sphingomyelinase D (SMase D) activity. The aim of this study was to compare the neutralization potentials of the anti-SMases D and the anti-arachnidic sera, against the toxic effects of venoms of these three species. The analysis by western blot has revealed that the anti-arachnidic serum was able to recognize the majority of the components present on the venoms of the three species, but anti-SMases D has recognized only components of 30-35 kDa, which corresponds to natives SMases D. By ELISA, it has been determined that the anti-SMases D serum contains higher titres of IgGT, IgGa, b and c than the anti-arachnidic serum. Serum neutralization tests have showed that the anti-SMases D serum has better inhibitory shingomyelinasic, dermonecrotic and haemolytic activities of the venoms from L. intermedia and L. laeta. For L. gaucho venom, the results have been similar or better than the anti-arachnidic serum. Although the anti-SMases D serum shows a significant neutralization potential, it is necessary the inclusion of a SMase D from L. gaucho venom, to obtain a efficient antiserum against this venom.