US5064657A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Spider toxins and methods for their use as blockers of amino acid receptor function
Assignee: UTAH RESEARCH FOUNDATION A CORP OF UTAH, University of
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Filing: 1990-05-11
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Granted: 1991-11-12
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Expires: 2010-05-11
Abstract
Abstract Methods and compositions for blocking various channels and receptors within an organism are provided. For example, a toxin was isolated from the Argiope aurantia spider. This toxin was found to have a reversible effect on excitatory amino acid receptors. Another toxin having a molecular weight of from approximately 5,000 to approximately 7,000 daltons was isolated from the Hololena curta spider. This toxin was found to have an irreversible effect on excitatory amino acid receptors. The present invention further relates to methods of treating heart and neurological diseases by applying the toxins isolated and identified. In particular, the low molecular weight toxin from Agelenopsis aperta may provide a treatment of certain heart conditions such as arrhythmia, angina, hypertension, and congestive heart failure. In addition, the toxins may provide beneficial effects on certain neuological conditions including seizures. It is also found that the toxins having an irreversible effect are effective as tags in probing the various components within the calcium channels and excitatory amino acid receptors and are effective insecticides and anthelmintics.
Inventors
- 👤 J. R. Hunter Jackson
- 👤 Thomas N. Parks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:58
CPC Classifications
C; C07; C07K; C07K14/00; C07K14/435; C07K14/43504; C07K14/43513; C07K14/43518; A; A61; A61K; A61K38/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
37 words
A composition functioning as an excitatory amino acid receptor blocker comprising at least one toxin extracted from Argiope aurantia spider venom, said at least one toxin being capable of functioning as an excitatory amino acid receptor blocker.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
37 words
A composition functioning as an excitatory amino acid receptor blocker comprising at least one toxin extracted from Argiope aurantia spider venom, said at least one toxin being capable of functioning as an excitatory amino acid receptor blocker.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A composition as defined in claim 1 wherein the effects of the toxin are reversible.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A composition as defined in claim 1 wherein the effects of the toxin are irreversible.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A composition as defined in claim 1 wherein the toxin blocks excitatory amino acid receptors in the nervous system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A composition as defined in claim 1 wherein the toxin has a molecular weight of from about 500 to about 1,000 daltons.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A composition as defined in claim 5 wherein the effects of said toxin are reversible.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A composition functioning as an excitatory amino acid receptor blocker comprising a toxin extracted from the venom of the Argiope aurantia spider and having a molecular weight of from about 500 to about 1,000 daltons.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A composition functioning as an excitatory amino acid receptor blocker comprising a toxin extracted from the venom of the Argiope aurantia spider and having a molecular weight of from about 500 to about 1,000 daltons.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A composition as defined in claim 7 wherein the toxin has a molecular weight of from about 650 to about 670 daltons.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A composition as defined in claim 8 which produces a readily reversible blockage of transmission in chick cochlear nucleus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
An insecticide consisting essentially of at least one toxin extracted from the whole venom of the Agelenopsis aperta spider.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An insecticide consisting essentially of at least one toxin extracted from the whole venom of the Agelenopsis aperta spider.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
An insecticide as defined in claim 10 wherein the toxin has a molecular weight of from about 500 to about 1,500 daltons.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
An insecticide as defined in claim 10 wherein the toxin has a molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 10,000 daltons.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
An insecticide comprising a toxin extracted from the whole venom of the Hololena curta spider and having a molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 7,000 daltons.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
An insecticide comprising a toxin extracted from the whole venom of the Hololena curta spider and having a molecular weight of from about 5,000 to about 7,000 daltons.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
An insecticide functioning as an excitatory amino acid receptor blocker comprising a toxin extracted from the Argiope aurantia spider and having a molecular weight of from about 500 to about 1,000 daltons.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
An insecticide functioning as an excitatory amino acid receptor blocker comprising a toxin extracted from the Argiope aurantia spider and having a molecular weight of from about 500 to about 1,000 daltons.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
An anthelmintic functioning as an excitatory amino acid receptor blocker comprising a toxin extracted form the Argiope aurantia spider and having a molecular weight of from about 600 to about 700 daltons.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
An anthelmintic functioning as an excitatory amino acid receptor blocker comprising a toxin extracted form the Argiope aurantia spider and having a molecular weight of from about 600 to about 700 daltons.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
A composition as defined in claim 1 wherein said toxin has a molecular weight of approximately 660 daltons.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
A composition as defined in claim 16 wherein the effects of said toxin are reversible.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of manufacturing an excitatory amino acid receptor blocker comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining at least one Argiope aurantia spider; (b) obtaining venom from said at least one spider; (c) separating the toxins of the venom so obtained; (d) recovering an individual toxin separated from the venom; and (e) combining said isolated toxin with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier such that the toxin is capable of functioning as an excitatory amino acid receptor blocker.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of manufacturing an excitatory amino acid receptor blocker comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining at least one Argiope aurantia spider; (b) obtaining venom from said at least one spider; (c) separating the toxins of the venom so obtained; (d) recovering an individual toxin separated from the venom; and (e) combining said isolated toxin with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier such that the toxin is capable of functioning as an excitatory amino acid receptor blocker.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as defined in claim 18 wherein the toxin recovered has a molecular weight of from about 500 to about 1,000 daltons.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of administering an excitatory amino acid receptor blocker comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining an excitatory amino acid receptor blocker composition comprising at least one toxin isolated from the venom of the Argiope aurantia spider, said isolated toxin being combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier such that the composition is capable of functioning as an excitatory amino acid receptor blocker; and (b) administering said excitatory amino acid receptor blocker composition to a human patient.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of administering an excitatory amino acid receptor blocker comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining an excitatory amino acid receptor blocker composition comprising at least one toxin isolated from the venom of the Argiope aurantia spider, said isolated toxin being combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier such that the composition is capable of functioning as an excitatory amino acid receptor blocker; and (b) administering said excitatory amino acid receptor blocker composition to a human patient.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of administering an excitatory amino acid receptor blocker as defined in claim 20 wherein the at least one toxin isolated from the venom of the Argiope aurantia spider has a molecular weight of from about 500 to about 1,000 daltons.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
EP0156540A1
Cited
US4855405A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-11-11 | 1995-05-13 | 1995-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-11-11 | 1999-05-13 | 1999-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-11-11 | 2003-05-13 | 2003-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |