Sequence diversity of T-superfamily conotoxins from Conus marmoreus

Toxicon. 2005 Mar 15;45(4):481-7. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2004.12.008.

Abstract

Remarkable sequence diversity of T-superfamily conotoxins was found in a mollusk-hunting cone snail Conus marmoreus. The sequence of mr5a purified from the snail venom was determined, while six other sequences of Mr5.1a, Mr5.1b, Mr5.2, Mr5.3, Mr5.4a, and Mr5.4b were deduced from their corresponding cDNA cloned by RACE approach. mr5a of 10 amino acid residues is one of the shortest T-superfamily conotoxins ever found. They all share a typical (-CC-CC-) Cys pattern, a conserved signal peptide and a long 3'-untranslated region. A consensus Glu residue is preceded by the second two adjacent cysteines in all these toxins except in mr5a, whereas Mr5.1a, Mr5.1b, Mr5.4a and Mr5.4b are abundant in Trp residues. The identification of these highly divergent T-superfamily conotoxins will facilitate the understanding the relationship of their structure and function.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • China
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Conotoxins / genetics*
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Multigene Family / genetics*
  • Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Snails / genetics*

Substances

  • Conotoxins
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Complementary