Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Contryphan is a D-tryptophan-containing Conus peptide

E C Jimenéz1, B M Olivera, W R Gray

  • 1Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines.

The Journal of Biological Chemistry
|November 8, 1996
PubMed
Summary

Researchers discovered D-tryptophan in contryphan, a peptide from Conus radiatus snail venom. This marks the first instance of D-tryptophan in a normally translated polypeptide, offering new insights into peptide synthesis.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Nanoghosts: Mesenchymal Stem cells derived nanoparticles as a unique approach for cartilage regeneration.

Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society·2021
Same author

Overturning circulation, nutrient limitation, and warming in the Glacial North Pacific.

Science advances·2020
Same author

Effect of bioactive compounds extracted from <i>Cordyceps nidus</i> ANDES-F1080 on laccase activity of <i>Pleurotus ostreatus</i> ANDES-F515.

Biotechnology reports (Amsterdam, Netherlands)·2020
Same author

Co-delivery of immunomodulators in biodegradable nanoparticles improves therapeutic efficacy of cancer vaccines.

Biomaterials·2019
Same author

pH-responsive poly(lactide-co-glycolide) nanoparticles containing near-infrared dye for visualization and hyaluronic acid for treatment of osteoarthritis.

Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society·2019
Same author

Conus Peptides: Phylogenetic Range of Biological Activity.

The Biological bulletin·2018

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Marine Biology
  • Peptide Chemistry

Background:

  • Marine snails, such as Conus species, are known sources of bioactive peptides.
  • Venom peptides often contain unusual amino acids and post-translational modifications.
  • Contryphan, a peptide from Conus radiatus, causes a "stiff-tail" syndrome in mice.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and characterize novel peptides from Conus radiatus venom.
  • To investigate the presence and significance of non-canonical amino acids in venom peptides.
  • To confirm the structure and origin of D-tryptophan in contryphan.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and purification of contryphan from Conus radiatus venom.
  • Amino acid analysis and sequencing of the octapeptide.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Chemical synthesis of contryphan to confirm its structure, including the D-tryptophan residue.
  • Pharmacological testing in mice to characterize the "stiff-tail" syndrome.

    • Main Results:

    • Contryphan was identified as an octapeptide with the sequence Gly-Cys-Hyp-D-Trp-Glu-Pro-Trp-Cys-NH2.
    • The presence of D-tryptophan at position 4 was confirmed through chemical synthesis.
    • This is the first documented case of D-tryptophan in a normally translated polypeptide.
    • Unlike other D-amino acid peptides, the epimerization is not in position 2.

    Conclusions:

    • Contryphan represents a unique example of a naturally occurring polypeptide containing D-tryptophan.
    • The findings suggest novel mechanisms for amino acid modification during or after translation in venom systems.
    • Further research is warranted to explore the biosynthesis and functional implications of D-amino acids in venom peptides.