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Conotoxins: Molecular and Therapeutic Targets

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Marine Toxins as Research Tools

Part of the book series: Progress in Molecular and Subcellular Biology ((MMB,volume 46))

Abstract

Marine molluscs known as cone snails produce beautiful shells and a complex array of over 50,000 venom peptides evolved for prey capture and defence. Many of these peptides selectively modulate ion channels and transporters, making them a valuable source of new ligands for studying the role these targets play in normal and disease physiology. A number of conopeptides reduce pain in animal models, and several are now in pre-clinical and clinical development for the treatment of severe pain often associated with diseases such as cancer. Less than 1% of cone snail venom peptides are pharmacologically characterised.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, 4072, Australia

    Richard J. Lewis

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  1. Richard J. Lewis
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minato-cho, Hakodate, 041-8611, Japan

    Nobuhiro Fusetani (Faculty of Fisheries Sciences) (Faculty of Fisheries Sciences)

  2. Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100267, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0267, USA

    William Kem

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Lewis, R.J. (2009). Conotoxins: Molecular and Therapeutic Targets. In: Fusetani, N., Kem, W. (eds) Marine Toxins as Research Tools. Progress in Molecular and Subcellular Biology, vol 46. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-87895-7_2

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