title: The contryphans, a D-tryptophan-containing family of Conus peptides: interconversion between conformers.
abstract: We previously characterized contryphan-R, a D-tryptophan-containing octapeptide from the venom of Conus radiatus. In this study, we present evidence that the contryphan family of peptides is widely distributed in venoms of the fish-hunting cone snails. We purified, synthesized and characterized contryphan-Sm from Conus stercusmuscarum venom, and obtained molecular evidence for the existence of a third peptide, contryphan-P from Conus purpurascens venom ducts. The sequences of these three contryphans showed identity in seven of eight amino acids and a conserved pattern of post-translational modification. We also demonstrate that contryphan-Sm equilibrates between two distinct conformational states.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Jimenez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grilley
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hillyard
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Olivera
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008974:Mollusca; D008978:Mollusk Venoms / Q000737:chemistry*; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D008978:Mollusk Venoms; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C102355:contryphan