Cone snails have long been of note due to their colorful shells and deadly venom. Over the years, a number of people who have encountered these molluscs have been injured or killed by their sting. Biochemical analysis of the venom components has revealed a plethora of peptides and proteins that target a variety of receptors and ion channels.
Invertebrate venoms are very heterogeneous containing many active compounds from many chemical classes. However, peptides and polyamine toxins are the most relevant and frequently studied neuroactive compounds representing, together with proteins, the main toxic arsenal.
Cone snails are marine venomous predators with over 500 species distributed in the tropical and subtropical areas of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific oceans. Despite the relatively short time of evolution (
50 million years), the species of this group have evolved an incredibly varied set of neurotoxins that target specific ion channel subtypes, cell-surface receptors, and transporters with high affinity and selectivity.Although humans are not a prey for cone snails, in the near future cone snail toxins may be used by physicians to deliberately envenomate humans to treat
a variety of disease states. Some of the disease targets currently under investigation for treatment by cone-derived toxins include chronic pain, epilepsy, cardiovascular disease, psychiatric disorders, movement disorders and spasticity, cancer and stroke. In addition, neuromuscular blocking agents are being investigated as adjuncts in anesthesia.Up until now, very few compounds isolated from venoms have been put into clinical practice. However, with the use of novel techniques for the isolation and synthesis of natural compounds, it is to be expected that very soon, a novel generation of neuroactive compounds will become available for both basic research and development of novel therapeutic alternatives.
Resources: http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.library.uq.edu.au/science
Cone venom–from accidental stings to deliberate injection
Authors: J. M. McIntosh and R. M. Jones
Neurotoxins from invertebrates as anticonvulsants: From basic research to therapeutic application.
Authors: Márcia Renata Mortari, Alexandra Olimpio Siqueira Cunha, Luzitano Brandão Ferreira and Wagner Ferreira dos Santos
Student no. 42017624
