Detection of a cytolytic toxin in the venom of the stonefish (Synanceia trachynis)

The venom of the stonefish, Synanceia trachynis, contains a cytolytic toxin which is antigenic and ammonium sulfate-precipitable, and has a pI of ca 5.7 and an M(r) of ca 158,000. The toxin is a potent but narrow-spectrum cytolysin which is lytic in vitro for rabbit, dog, rat, pig and guinea pig erythrocytes, in that order, but is largely or completely inactive against sheep, cow, human, monkey, mouse, goat, horse, burro and cat erythrocytes. Fractionation of the venom by molecular sieve fast protein liquid chromatography and isoelectric focusing did not separate the haemolytic activity from the venom's lethal and vascular permeability-increasing activities. Also, the three activities were destroyed by heat, proteases, Congo red, potassium permanganate and stonefish antivenoms. The results suggest that the haemolytic, lethal and vascular permeability-increasing activities of stonefish venom are properties of the same molecule, a previously unrecognized, membrane-damaging protein toxin.