Conotoxins: from the biodiversity of gastropods to new drugs

Abstract

A review describes general trends in research of conotoxins that are peptide toxins isolated from sea gastropods of the Conus genus, since the toxins were discovered in 1970 . There are disclosed a conotoxin classification, their structure diversity and different ways of action to their molecular targets, mainly, ion channels. In the applied aspect of conotoxin research, drug discovery and development is discussed, the drugs being based on conotoxin structure. A first exemplary drug is a ziconotide, which is an analgesic of new generation.