Two new classes of conopeptides inhibit the [alpha]1-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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNature neuroscience Vol. 4; no. 9; p. 902
Main Authors Sharpe, Iain A, Gehrmann, John, Loughnan, Marion L, Thomas, Linda, Adams, Denise A, Atkins, Ann, Palant, Elka, Craik, David J, Adams, David J, Alewood, Paul F, Lewis, Richard J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Nature Publishing Group 01.09.2001
Subjects
Adrenergic receptors
Chemical bonds
Competition
Mollusks
Neurosciences
Polypeptides
Publishing
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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
DOI:10.1038/nn0901-902