芋螺毒素研究进展

芋螺毒素是近年来国际上的一个研究热点.它属于一类海洋生物活性多肽，多数由12～46个氨基酸残基所组成，能特异性地作用于体内各种离子通道和细胞膜上神经递质和激肽的受体.具有分子质量小、结构多样、作用靶点广泛、功能专一、组织特异性强等优点，因而较之其他生物来源的活性多肽有更多的优越性.芋螺毒素是一待挖掘的“富矿区”，可作为体内一些具有重要生理功能靶点的探针和“解密器”，亦可作为新药的先导化合物或直接开发成新药，因此对芋螺毒素的研究有重要的理论和实际意义.

Progress on Conotoxins

The venoms of predatory cone snails represent a rich combinatorial-like library of evolutionarily selected, neuropharmacologically active peptides. A major fraction of the venom components are conotoxins--small, disulfide-rich peptides that potently and specifically interfere with neurotransmission by targeting a variety of proteins expressed on the cell surface, such as the ion channels of Ca 2+, Na + and K +, and the receptors of acetylcholine, 5-hydroxy tryptamine, NMDA, vasopressin and neurotensin. Because of low molecular mass, diversity of structure and targets, high specifiticy and tissue selectivity of conotoxins, they have more advantages over other naturally occurring toxins. Conopeptides could be also used as tools in neuroscience or as therapeutic agents. The conopeptides characterized to date are estimated to represent only 0 1% of the total present in 500 known species of Conus, therefore many novel conotoxins remain to be elucidated and explored. Pharmaceutical companies are now utilizing Conus-derived peptides to develop novel medications for pain, epilepsy and other disorders.