Multidimensional peptide fingerprinting by high performance liquid chromatography, capillary zone electrophoresis and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry for the identification of tarantula venom samples

The increased interest in spider venom toxins has made precise identification of venom samples necessary for reproducibility of biochemical and pharmacological studies. In the family Theraphosidae (Tarantulas), identification of specimens may be difficult and a new approach involving multidimensional biochemical analysis of venoms is proposed. Combined HPLC, capillary electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization fingerprinting of venom peptides permits accurate and reproducible identification of venom samples, and can be correlated with morphological observations. This rapid and very accurate methodology can be applied to minute amounts of samples obtained from live animals, on a large scale, with high reproducibility. Application of the methodology to five separate examples demonstrates confirmation of sample identity, separation of closely related species on the basis of venom profiles, and solution of classification problems not easily solved by morphological examination. Discussion of sample variability and the use of a dual matrix system is presented. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.