Conus Peptides: Phylogenetic Range of Biological Activity

The Biological Bulletin
L J CruzB M Olivera

Abstract

The major function of the venoms of the predatory marine snails belonging to the genus Conus is to paralyze prey. Thus, the venom of each Conus species acts on receptors and ion channels of the prey; previous studies suggested much less activity on homologous receptor targets in more distant taxa. In this article, we address the question of whether some peptide components of Conus venoms ("conopeptides") have "cross-phylum" biological activity. We examined the venom of Conus textile, a mollusk-hunting Conus, using a mammalian biological activity assay. We purified a 23 amino acid "convulsant peptide" with potent activity in the mammalian CNS, even though it comes from the venom of a snail-hunting Conus species. A survey of Conus textile venom fractions indicates that, in addition to the convulsant peptide, many other components of this venom will exhibit "cross-phylum" biological activity. Conopeptides with broad-range phylogenetic specificity should be useful tools for studying the evolution of receptors and ion channels, and of nervous systems.

Citations

Jun 9, 1999·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·T F Duda, S R Palumbi
Dec 19, 2014·Marine Drugs·Samuel D Robinson, Raymond S Norton
Nov 2, 2016·Marine Drugs·Eline K M LebbeJan Tytgat
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Feb 8, 2014·PloS One·Samuel D RobinsonAnthony T Papenfuss
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Jul 21, 2011·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Toxicology & Pharmacology : CBP·Mohamed A Abdel-RahmanPeter N Strong

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