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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Synthesis and Structure Determination of µ-Conotoxin PIIIA Isomers with Different Disulfide Connectivities

Synthesis and Structure Determination of µ-Conotoxin PIIIA Isomers with Different Disulfide Connectivities

Published on: October 2, 2018

Structural studies of conotoxins.

Norelle L Daly¹, David J Craik

¹The University of Queensland, Institute for Molecular Bioscience and Australian Research Council Special Research Centre for Functional and Applied Genomics, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. n.daly@imb.uq.edu.au

|January 24, 2009

Summary

Conotoxins, peptides from cone snail venom, show diverse structures and target various biological molecules. Their unique properties make them promising candidates for new drug development.

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Area of Science:

Marine Biology
Biochemistry
Pharmacology

Background:

Conotoxins are peptides found in marine cone snail venom.
These peptides are rich in disulfide bonds, contributing to their structural stability.
They interact with ion channels, transporters, and receptors.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide an overview of the structural diversity of conotoxins.
To highlight recent examples of conotoxin structures.
To underscore the potential of conotoxins as drug leads.

Main Methods:

Literature review of conotoxin structures.
Analysis of structural diversity.
Selection and presentation of recent structural examples.

Main Results:

Conotoxins exhibit significant structural diversity.
Recent studies reveal novel conotoxin structures.
This diversity is key to their varied biological targets.

Conclusions:

Conotoxins possess a wide range of structures.
Understanding this diversity is crucial for their application.
Conotoxins represent a valuable resource for drug discovery.