Structures and Interactions of Insulin‐like Peptides from Cone Snail Venom

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Biswajit Gorai ◽  
Harish Vashisth
Keyword(s):  
Cone Snail

scholarly journals Identification of Novel Toxin Genes from the Stinging Nettle Caterpillar Parasa lepida (Cramer, 1799): Insights into the Evolution of Lepidoptera Toxins

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 396
Author(s):  
Natrada Mitpuangchon ◽  
Kwan Nualcharoen ◽  
Singtoe Boonrotpong ◽  
Patamarerk Engsontia
Keyword(s):  
Protease Inhibitors ◽  
Proteolytic Enzymes ◽  
Gene Annotation ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Toxin Gene ◽  
Cone Snail ◽  
Stinging Nettle ◽  
Toxin Genes ◽  
Nettle Caterpillar

Many animal species can produce venom for defense, predation, and competition. The venom usually contains diverse peptide and protein toxins, including neurotoxins, proteolytic enzymes, protease inhibitors, and allergens. Some drugs for cancer, neurological disorders, and analgesics were developed based on animal toxin structures and functions. Several caterpillar species possess venoms that cause varying effects on humans both locally and systemically. However, toxins from only a few species have been investigated, limiting the full understanding of the Lepidoptera toxin diversity and evolution. We used the RNA-seq technique to identify toxin genes from the stinging nettle caterpillar, Parasa lepida (Cramer, 1799). We constructed a transcriptome from caterpillar urticating hairs and reported 34,968 unique transcripts. Using our toxin gene annotation pipeline, we identified 168 candidate toxin genes, including protease inhibitors, proteolytic enzymes, and allergens. The 21 P. lepida novel Knottin-like peptides, which do not show sequence similarity to any known peptide, have predicted 3D structures similar to tarantula, scorpion, and cone snail neurotoxins. We highlighted the importance of convergent evolution in the Lepidoptera toxin evolution and the possible mechanisms. This study opens a new path to understanding the hidden diversity of Lepidoptera toxins, which could be a fruitful source for developing new drugs.

scholarly journals Diversity of Conopeptides and Conoenzymes from the Venom Duct of the Marine Cone Snail Conus bayani as Determined from Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analyses

Marine Drugs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 202
Author(s):  
Rajesh Rajaian Pushpabai ◽  
Carlton Ranjith Wilson Alphonse ◽  
Rajasekar Mani ◽  
Deepak Arun Apte ◽  
Jayaseelan Benjamin Franklin
Keyword(s):  
Gene Family ◽  
Transcriptome Sequencing ◽  
Cone Snail ◽  
Active Peptides ◽  
Transcriptomic Data ◽  
Sequencing Technologies ◽  
Hunting Strategies ◽  
Divergent Gene ◽  
Pharmacologically Active ◽  
Highly Evolved

Marine cone snails are predatory gastropods characterized by a well-developed venom apparatus and highly evolved hunting strategies that utilize toxins to paralyze prey and defend against predators. The venom of each species of cone snail has a large number of pharmacologically active peptides known as conopeptides or conotoxins that are usually unique in each species. Nevertheless, venoms of only very few species have been characterized so far by transcriptomic approaches. In this study, we used transcriptome sequencing technologies and mass spectrometric methods to describe the diversity of venom components expressed by a worm-hunting species, Conus bayani. A total of 82 conotoxin sequences were retrieved from transcriptomic data that contain 54 validated conotoxin sequences clustered into 21 gene superfamilies including divergent gene family, 17 sequences clustered to 6 different conotoxin classes, and 11 conotoxins classified as unassigned gene family. Seven new conotoxin sequences showed unusual cysteine patterns. We were also able to identify 19 peptide sequences using mass spectrometry that completely overlapped with the conotoxin sequences obtained from transcriptome analysis. Importantly, herein we document the presence of 16 proteins that include five post-translational modifying enzymes obtained from transcriptomic data. Our results revealed diverse and novel conopeptides of an unexplored species that could be used extensively in biomedical research due to their therapeutic potentials.

scholarly journals Deep Venomics Reveals the Mechanism for Expanded Peptide Diversity in Cone Snail Venom

2012 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 312-329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sébastien Dutertre ◽  
Ai-hua Jin ◽  
Quentin Kaas ◽  
Alun Jones ◽  
Paul F. Alewood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cone Snail

A new species of cone snail, Conus laccadivensis sp. nov.: (Gastropoda: Conidae) from the Islands of Lakshadweep Archipelago

2021 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 101783
Author(s):  
P. Laxmilatha ◽  
Shijin Ameri ◽  
K.A. Labeeb ◽  
L. Ranjith ◽  
A. Kathirvelpandian
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Cone Snail ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Lakshadweep Archipelago

scholarly journals Discovery Methodology of Novel Conotoxins from Conus Species

Marine Drugs ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Fu ◽  
Cheng Li ◽  
Shuai Dong ◽  
Yong Wu ◽  
Dongting Zhangsun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Development ◽  
Gene Cloning ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
Disulfide Bond ◽  
Cone Snail ◽  
Crude Venom ◽  
Drug Candidates ◽  
Conus Species ◽  
New Drug Development ◽  
Natural Peptides

Cone snail venoms provide an ideal resource for neuropharmacological tools and drug candidates discovery, which have become a research hotspot in neuroscience and new drug development. More than 1,000,000 natural peptides are produced by cone snails, but less than 0.1% of the estimated conotoxins has been characterized to date. Hence, the discovery of novel conotoxins from the huge conotoxin resources with high-throughput and sensitive methods becomes a crucial key for the conotoxin-based drug development. In this review, we introduce the discovery methodology of new conotoxins from various Conus species. It focuses on obtaining full N- to C-terminal sequences, regardless of disulfide bond connectivity through crude venom purification, conotoxin precusor gene cloning, venom duct transcriptomics, venom proteomics and multi-omic methods. The protocols, advantages, disadvantages, and developments of different approaches during the last decade are summarized and the promising prospects are discussed as well.

scholarly journals Diverse Cone-Snail Species Harbor Closely Related Streptomyces Species with Conserved Chemical and Genetic Profiles, Including Polycyclic Tetramic Acid Macrolactams

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Quezada ◽  
Cuauhtemoc Licona-Cassani ◽  
Pablo Cruz-Morales ◽  
Angela A. Salim ◽  
Esteban Marcellin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Snail Species ◽  
Cone Snail ◽  
Tetramic Acid ◽  
Streptomyces Species ◽  
Genetic Profiles

Intraspecific variation in the venom of the vermivorous cone snail Conus vexillum

2011 ◽  
Vol 154 (4) ◽  
pp. 318-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed A. Abdel-Rahman ◽  
Ismail M. Abdel-Nabi ◽  
Mohamed S. El-Naggar ◽  
Osama A. Abbas ◽  
Peter N. Strong
Keyword(s):  
Intraspecific Variation ◽  
Cone Snail
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document