Conotoxins down under

Toxicon. 2006 Dec 1;48(7):780-98. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2006.07.022. Epub 2006 Jul 15.

Abstract

In the four decades since toxinologists in Australia and elsewhere started to investigate the active constituents of venomous cone snails, a wealth of information has emerged on the various classes of peptides and proteins that make their venoms such potent bioactive cocktails. This article provides an overview of the current state of knowledge of these venom constituents, several of which are of interest as potential human therapeutics as a consequence of their high potency and exquisite target specificity. With the promise of as many as 50,000 venom components across the entire Conus genus, many more interesting peptides can be anticipated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Australia
  • Conotoxins* / chemistry
  • Conotoxins* / pharmacology
  • Conotoxins* / toxicity
  • Conus Snail* / anatomy & histology
  • Conus Snail* / classification
  • Conus Snail* / physiology
  • Humans
  • Ion Channel Gating / drug effects*
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / drug effects

Substances

  • Conotoxins
  • Receptors, Cholinergic