Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026

High Throughput Quantitative Expression Screening and Purification Applied to Recombinant Disulfide-rich Venom Proteins Produced in E. coli
Published on: July 30, 2014
Conopeptides: From deadly venoms to novel therapeutics
Abstract:
Marine cone snails have developed many distinct venoms that contain biologically active peptides as part of an envenomation survival strategy for feeding and defense. These peptides, known as conopeptides, have been optimized through evolution to target specific ion channels and receptors with very high affinities and selectivities. Side effects of currently available therapies often arise from their lack of selectivity between pharmacologically relevant targets and targets that have a similar structure but different function. As conopeptides can be highly selective between closely related receptor subtypes, they could meet specific therapeutic needs with a reduced likelihood of side effects.
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