Vol. 7, Issue 1 (2019)

This review provides an overview of the development of spider venom research, focusing on the structure and function of venom components and analysis techniques. The major groups of venom components are low molecular weight compounds, antimicrobial (Also called cytolytic or cationic) peptides (only in some spider families), cysteine-rich peptides (Neurotoxic), and enzymes and proteins. Cysteine-rich peptides are reviewed with respect to various structural motifs, their targets (ion channels, membrane receptors), nomenclature, and molecular binding. We further describe the latest findings regarding the maturation of antimicrobial and cysteine-rich peptides, which in most known cases are expressed as propeptide-containing precursors.