Two new classes of conopeptides inhibit the alpha1-adrenoceptor and noradrenaline transporter

Cone snails use venom containing a cocktail of peptides ('conopeptides') to capture their prey. Many of these peptides also target mammalian receptors, often with exquisite selectivity. Here we report the discovery of two new classes of conopeptides. One class targets alpha1-adrenoceptors...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inNature neuroscience Vol. 4; no. 9; p. 902
Main Authors Sharpe, I A, Gehrmann, J, Loughnan, M L, Thomas, L, Adams, D A, Atkins, A, Palant, E, Craik, D J, Adams, D J, Alewood, P F, Lewis, R J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.09.2001
Subjects
Amino Acid Sequence - genetics
Animals
Carrier Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors
Imaging, Three-Dimensional
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Male
Molecular Sequence Data
Mollusk Venoms - chemistry
Mollusk Venoms - classification
Mollusk Venoms - genetics
Mollusk Venoms - pharmacology
Neurons - metabolism
Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha - drug effects
Symporters
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Cone snails use venom containing a cocktail of peptides ('conopeptides') to capture their prey. Many of these peptides also target mammalian receptors, often with exquisite selectivity. Here we report the discovery of two new classes of conopeptides. One class targets alpha1-adrenoceptors (rho-TIA from the fish-hunting Conus tulipa), and the second class targets the neuronal noradrenaline transporter (chi-MrIA and chi-MrIB from the mollusk-hunting C. marmoreus). rho-TIA and chi-MrIA selectively modulate these important membrane-bound proteins. Both peptides act as reversible non-competitive inhibitors and provide alternative avenues for the identification of inhibitor drugs.
ISSN:1097-6256
1546-1726