A Novel Protein Toxin from the Deadly Box Jellyfish (Sea Wasp, Habu-kurage)Chiropsalmus quadrigatus

• DOI: 10.1271/bbb.66.97
• Publication Date: 2003-05-01T06:05:00Z
• Authors: Hiroshi NAGAI; Kyoko TAKUWA-KURODA; Masahiro NAKAO; Naomasa OSHIRO; Setsuko IWANAGA; Terumi NAKAJIMA
• Keywords: Cnidocyte; Cardiotoxin; Marine toxin

The deadly box jellyfish (Sea Wasp, Habu-kurage in Japanese) Chiropsalmus quadrigatus Haeckel (Cubozoa) is distributed widely the tropical Pacific region. In Japan, three fatal cases due to stings from this species have been reported officially. We successfully isolated C. toxin-A (CqTX-A, 44 kDa), a major proteinaceous toxin, for first time, nematocysts of quadrigatus. CqTX-A showed lethal toxicity crayfish when administered via intraperitoneal injection (LD50 = 80 microg/kg) and hemolytic activity toward 0.8% sheep red blood cells (ED50 160 ng/ml). Furthermore, we sequenced cDNA encoding CqTX-A. deduced amino acid sequence (462 acids) 25.2% 21.6% similarity Carybdea rastoni toxins (CrTXs) alata (CrTX-A), respectively, which are Cubozoan toxins.