Grace Vanathi* and Rajesh RP
Cone snails are marine gastropods serving as a source for the production of various bio-active compounds. These bioactive compounds are used by pharmaceutical industries for developing drug formulations with less toxic effects. Cone snail peptides are of significant importance, as these peptides are exhibiting large chemical diversity and potency towards targeting specific membrane receptors. Conopeptides are venom peptides used by cone snails for prey capturing and defense. These peptides are capable of specifically modifying various ion channel transporters and membrane receptors. Conopeptides contains about 60-80 amino acids and is mostly studied at mRNA and protein level. Conopeptide synthesis proceeds in such a way, that the signal and pro-peptides are cleaved by proteolysis yielding the final matured peptide. These final matured peptides have small structural units, capable of modifying specific ion channels of the mammalian nervous system. Conopeptides have high potential towards ion channels, making them as an ideal drug lead
KeywordsPharmaceutical; Cone snails; Conopeptides; Proteolysis; Protein
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