Tarantula Venom and Chili Peppers Share Receptor 58
FiReaNGeL writes "Scientists have discovered that venom from a West Indian tarantula has been shown to cause pain by exciting the same nerve cells in mice that sense high temperatures and the hot, spicy ingredient in chili peppers. The findings demonstrate that some plants and animals have evolved the same molecular strategy to deter predators — triggering pain by activating a specific receptor on sensory nerves. The research provides new tools to understand how these pain- and heat-sensing neurons work, and to help develop drugs that ease persistent pain."
Yes, but... (Score:1)
Arghhhhhh how could you (Score:1)
*shudder*
Contextual advertising or just fluke?
New cookery possibilties! (Score:3, Funny)
Parallel evolution (Score:3, Insightful)
Wrong Headline! (Score:5, Interesting)
It would be truly shocking if they actually shared the same receptor... has that ever happened? A plant growing an animal cell? Just curious...
Incidentally, the article doesn't really say if the same proteins are used by the pepper and the arachnid to provoke this receptor. Somehow I doubt it, since TFA says that just simple heat from the sun, as well as "peppery food, mustard oil and other compounds" also target it. Seems more coincidental than anything; a porcupine and a cactus would be another example of a plant and an animal developing a similar defense mechanism, no? Plant or animal, we do all seem to share the same world here...
In case anyone's interested, this particular species of tarantula, Psalmopoeus cambridgei [bighairyspiders.com], is quite cool looking [bighairyspiders.com]... not quite as cool as, say, Avicularia versicolor [papiliophoto.com] or Haplopelma lividum [bighairyspiders.com], but cooler than I expected.
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Re: I think its the other way around (Score:4, Insightful)
This doesn't sound right. If this assertion is correct, it implies that as an organism is developing, its evolution is not only based on its perception of the environment, but on the exact biological constitution of it. How can a tarantula, for example, "know" of the existence of such receptors in its predators?
I would imagine it works the other way around: predators developed a common sensory receptor to detect specific chemical threats, and trigger an immediate physical response in order to prevent further consumption.
-dZ.
Endorphin (Score:2, Informative)
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Boomer (Score:1, Funny)
[sigh]
Man, i need to get out a little.
D.
Music Reference? (Score:2, Funny)
* = Ear for the laypeople
That's a spicy meat-a-ball! (Score:3, Funny)
Was I the only one (Score:5, Funny)
"New York punk group Tarantula Venom will be opening for the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the Receptor on 45th and Broadway
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Why not ? (Score:2)
Not necessarly need to "know". Some tanratula ancestrors could have mutated and started to secrete a some special compound into their venom. This compound was somewhat able to trigger an effect on some receptor of the thermo-algic nerves and thus provoking pain and burn sensasion.
Those new mutant therefor happen to have discovered a better way to defend themselfes from potential predators and other menace. They surv
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Knowledge doesn't enter the picture. Chili plants (and tarantulas) experiment with chemicals, the more painful ones live, and the less painful ones are eaten. They don't need to "know" why that happe
Cure for Tarantula venom? (Score:2, Funny)
Fuck it, I'll take my chances with the spiders!
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However, beyond their powerful spice effect, chillis (modern ones at least) don't pose a 'specific chemical threat'. So, a receptor inducing pain is unlikely to have offered a selective benefit for its carrier.
In the case of a spider, they certainly wouldn't need to 'know' of the existence of a specific receptor. Those that were able to induce pain in a predator would be more likely to have a repr
ObRedMeatComment (Score:3, Funny)
So how long... (Score:2)
Until tarantula venom shows up at stores like http://mohotta.com/ [mohotta.com] :)
(Considering that they already sell "Blair's Megadeath Hot Sauce" and "Bee Sting Honey Mustard Hot Sauce".)
Yes, i know one better (Score:1)
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You've got a choice of: Tarantula; Tarantula A.D.; Tarantulas, The; and Tarantella
http://www.answers.com/library/Pop+Artists-letter
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Then I actually read the summary and it's only the pain receptor that is shared. It would not stop or slow the venom.
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Capsaicin (Score:3, Informative)
Not exactly (Score:1)
Further, TRPV1 (more familiarly known as capsaicin receptor) is, in fact, activated both by heat from traditional sources (the sun, a stove, etc.) but also by things which we perceive as hot (such as peppe
Heat receptors (Score:4, Informative)
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Not a real bad thing to see in your house though, as it means all the really nasty spiders have become Huntsman food. They don't seem to bother with webs. I don't think I'd want to cook with one of tho
Re:Yes, but... (Score:3, Informative)
You can easily test that. Get yourself a bottle of original Russian "Pertsovka". It is a type of vodka, which has been left to stay above chilies. The drink has a reddish brown hue which depending on your level of capsacine addiction signifies either instant death or ultimate pleasure (or one through the other).
It is the closest thing in the real world to the Pangalactic Gargle Blaster. You definitely feel like having your brains smashed out by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick. In small quantities it is like getting them smashed with a "mere" hammer.
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Either way, both species make great pets; only downside is being arboreal they damn near teleport when spooked.
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It doesn't. Nowhere does what you've quited imply that either spider or plant know anything about their environment. They simply "know" that they've not been eaten and can spread their seed - and thus (continue to) do so.
FatPhil
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Don't try eating any of it straight though, I must have drank 3 litres of water the one time I tried it like that. Not that the water helped, but it hurt so much I thought I should at least try to do something to help.
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Same concept as for the plant.
Well, they're on the Web already :-) (Score:2)
Nope, (Score:2)
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I would imagine it works the other way around: predators developed a common sensory receptor to detect specific chemical threats, and trigger an immediate physical response in order to prevent furthe
More on "Mechanism of action" (Score:4, Informative)
Which makes me curious if anyone has combined chile with wintergreen and what happened.
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It doesn't. See e.g. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inheritance_of_acquir ed_traits [wikipedia.org]
This particular species is still crawling the earth because it happened to produce a useful venom. The other species, umm, didn't do so well.
Thats natural selection for you.
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Ouch... (Score:3, Funny)
I'm trying to remember the last time I was bitten by a chili pepper.
The original article?? (Score:3, Informative)
http://pub.ucsf.edu/newsservices/releases/2006110
Evolution... (Score:2)
That's a basic feature of evolutionary theory; the actual environment, and what works and doesn't work in it, is what drives evolution, not any organism's perception of the environment.
It doesn't, and it doesn't need to. Evolu
On a side note... (Score:4, Informative)
@ 16787299: Plagiarism? (Score:2)