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Current Topics in Ion Channels

Subtype-selective conopeptides targeted to nicotinic receptors:
Concerted discovery and biomedical applications

Baldomero M Olivera, Maryka Quik, Michelle Vincler and J. Michael McIntosh

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Conus peptides that are selectively targeted to different molecular isoforms of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have been identified and characterized; several have recently been shown to have significant biomedical potential. An emerging strategy for the discovery from animal biodiversity of subtype-specific ligands for ion channel families is described in this review. Characterization of the gene family encoding a set of related ligands is required for discovery using a molecular genetics approach; when discovery is guided by a knowledge of the phylogeny of the biodiverse animal lineage being used as a source of ligands, a rational, efficient scan of the library of putative ligands becomes feasible. Together, these constitute an approach to uncover subtype-specific ligands, called “concerted discovery”; this was applied to the α-conotoxins, a family of Conus peptides generally targeted to nAChRs.

Authors

Baldomero M Olivera

University of Utah

Maryka Quik

The Parkinson's Institute

Michelle Vincler

Wake Forest University School of Medicine

J. Michael McIntosh

University of Utah

Purchase article for $19

Subscribe to this journal for $79/year