Hyperhydroxylation: a new strategy for neuronal targeting by venomous marine molluscs.
Venomous marine molluscs belonging to the genus Conus (cone snails) utilize a unique neurochemical strategy to capture their prey. Their venom is composed of a complex mixture of highly modified peptides (conopeptides) that interact with a wide range of neuronal targets. In this chapter, we describe a set of modifications based upon the hydroxylation of polypeptidic chains that are defining within the neurochemical strategy used by cone snails to capture their prey. In particular, we present a differential hydroxylation strategy that affects the neuronal targeting of a new set of a-conotoxins, mini-M conotoxins, conophans, and y-hydroxyconophans. Differential hydroxylation, preferential hydroxylation and hyperhydroxylation have been observed in these conopeptide families as a means of augmenting the venom arsenal used by cone snails for neuronal targeting and prey capture.
Franco
A
A
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Centre of Excellence in Biomedical and Marine Biotechnology, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton, 33431 Florida, USA.
Pisarewicz
K
K
Moller
C
C
Mora
D
D
Fields
G B
GB
Marì
F
F
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D020916:Conotoxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D052078:Conus Snail / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D006900:Hydroxylation; D008386:Marine Biology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D020916:Conotoxins; D010455:Peptides