SPIDER NEUROTOXINS AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME

摘要

A toxin comprising an isolated derivative or analogue of an invertebrate specific neurotoxin, .delta.-Latroinsectotoxin (.delta.-LIT). The toxin is formed by expressing, in a bacterial host, a nucleotide sequence corresponding to a truncated form of a gene from the genome of the Black Widow Spider. The gene encodes for a non-toxic precursor protein, whilst the truncated form encodes for an active toxin.