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American Journal of Drug Discovery and Development

Year: 2011 | Volume: 1 | Issue: 1 | Page No.: 49-57
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Authors

M. Santhana Ramasamy

M. Santhana Ramasamy

P. Arumugam

S. Manikandan

A. Murugan

Keywords

Review Article

Molecular and Combinatorial Array of Therapeutic Targets from Conotoxins

M. Santhana Ramasamy M. Santhana Ramasamy's LiveDNA, P. Arumugam, S. Manikandan and A. Murugan
Marine gastropod molluscs known as cone snails produce a complex array of over 50,000 peptides evolved for defense and prey capture. These venom peptides of predatory snails represent a rich combinatorial like library of evolutionary selected, neuro pharmacologically active. A major portion of the venom components are small, disulphide rich peptides that potently and specifically target and modulate components of the neuromuscular system, particularly ligand gated, voltage gated ion channels and transporters, making them a valuable source of new ligands for studying the role of these targets play in normal and disease physiology. Conotoxins are genetically encoded a propeptides which following expression and cleaved by specialized endoprotease to produce the mature venom peptide. A vast number of conuspeptides reduce neuropathic pain in animal models. Though several peptide drugs are in preclinical and clinical development for the treatment of severe pain often associated with diseases such as cancer, less than 1% of cono peptides are pharmacologically explored. This review focuses on the fundamental aspects and families of conotoxins in addition to some of the novel conopeptides acting at different types of Voltage gated and ligand gated ion channels which may lead to molecular and therapeutic targets.
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