Skip to content
2000
Volume 17, Issue 38
  • ISSN: 1381-6128
  • E-ISSN: 1873-4286

Abstract

Conotoxins are small bioactive highly structured peptides from the venom of marine cone snails (genus Conus). Over the past 50 million years these molluscs have developed a complex venom cocktail for each species that is comprised of 100-2000 distinct cysteine- rich peptides for prey capture and defence. This review focuses on an important and well-studied class of conotoxins, the α- conotoxins. These α-conotoxins are potent and selective antagonists of various subtypes of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Key structure-activity relationship studies are presented to illustrate the common motifs, structural features and pharmacophores that define this interesting peptide class. Additionally, their synthesis, chemical modifications, the development of more selective and stable analogues and their therapeutic potential are discussed.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/cpd/10.2174/138161211798999384
2011-12-01
2025-05-06
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/content/journals/cpd/10.2174/138161211798999384
Loading
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test