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      µ-Conotoxins as Leads in the Development of New Analgesics

      review-article
      Author(s):
      Publication date (Electronic):
      Journal: Molecules
      Publisher: Molecular Diversity Preservation International
      Keywords: cone shell, toxin, sodium channel, pain, peptide mimetic

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          Abstract

          Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) contain a specific binding site for a family of cone shell toxins known as µ-conotoxins. As some VGSCs are involved in pain perception and µ-conotoxins are able to block these channels, µ-conotoxins show considerable potential as analgesics. Recent studies have advanced our understanding of the three-dimensional structures and structure-function relationships of the µ-conotoxins, including their interaction with VGSCs. Truncated peptide analogues of the native toxins have been created in which secondary structure elements are stabilized by non-native linkers such as lactam bridges. Ultimately, it would be desirable to capture the favourable analgesic properties of the native toxins, in particular their potency and channel sub-type selectivity, in non-peptide mimetics. Such mimetics would constitute lead compounds in the development of new therapeutics for the treatment of pain.

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          Nanoparticles as potential oral delivery systems of proteins and vaccines: a mechanistic approach.

          Anne des Rieux, Virginie Fievez, Marie Garinot … (2006)
          Peptides and proteins remain poorly bioavailable upon oral administration. One of the most promising strategies to improve their oral delivery relies on their association with colloidal carriers, e.g. polymeric nanoparticles, stable in gastrointestinal tract, protective for encapsulated substances and able to modulate physicochemical characteristics, drug release and biological behavior. The mechanisms of transport of these nanoparticles across intestinal mucosa are reviewed. In particular, the influence of size and surface properties on their non-specific uptake or their targeted uptake by enterocytes and/or M cells is discussed. Enhancement of their uptake by appropriate cells, i.e. M cells by (i) modeling surface properties to optimize access to and transport by M cells (ii) identifying surface markers specific to human M cell allowing targeting to M cells and nanoparticles transcytosis is illustrated. Encouraging results upon in vivo testing are reported but low bioavailability and lack of control on absorbed dose slow down products development. Vaccines are certainly the most promising applications for orally delivered nanoparticles.
          Article 0 comments Cited 231 times – based on 0 reviews     Review now
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            Conus venoms: a rich source of novel ion channel-targeted peptides.

            Heinrich Terlau, Baldomero Olivera (2004)
            The cone snails (genus Conus) are venomous marine molluscs that use small, structured peptide toxins (conotoxins) for prey capture, defense, and competitor deterrence. Each of the 500 Conus can express approximately 100 different conotoxins, with little overlap between species. An overwhelming majority of these peptides are probably targeted selectively to a specific ion channel. Because conotoxins discriminate between closely related subtypes of ion channels, they are widely used as pharmacological agents in ion channel research, and several have direct diagnostic and therapeutic potential. Large conotoxin families can comprise hundreds or thousands of different peptides; most families have a corresponding ion channel family target (i.e., omega-conotoxins and Ca channels, alpha-conotoxins and nicotinic receptors). Different conotoxin families may have different ligand binding sites on the same ion channel target (i.e., mu-conotoxins and delta-conotoxins to sites 1 and 6 of Na channels, respectively). The individual peptides in a conotoxin family are typically each selectively targeted to a diverse set of different molecular isoforms within the same ion channel family. This review focuses on the targeting specificity of conotoxins and their differential binding to different states of an ion channel.
            Article 0 comments Cited 170 times – based on 0 reviews     Review now
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              Ziconotide: neuronal calcium channel blocker for treating severe chronic pain.

              G. Miljanich (2004)
              Ziconotide (PRIALT) is a neuroactive peptide in the final stages of clinical development as a novel non-opioid treatment for severe chronic pain. It is the synthetic equivalent of omega-MVIIA, a component of the venom of the marine snail, Conus magus. The mechanism of action underlying ziconotide's therapeutic profile derives from its potent and selective blockade of neuronal N-type voltage-sensitive calcium channels (N-VSCCs). Direct blockade of N-VSCCs inhibits the activity of a subset of neurons, including pain-sensing primary nociceptors. This mechanism of action distinguishes ziconotide from all other analgesics, including opioid analgesics. In fact, ziconotide is potently anti-nociceptive in animal models of pain in which morphine exhibits poor anti-nociceptive activity. Moreover, in contrast to opiates, tolerance to ziconotide is not observed. Clinical studies of ziconotide in more than 2,000 patients reveal important correlations to ziconotide's non-clinical pharmacology. For example, ziconotide provides significant pain relief to severe chronic pain sufferers who have failed to obtain relief from opiate therapy and no evidence of tolerance to ziconotide is seen in these patients. Contingent on regulatory approval, ziconotide will be the first in a new class of neurological drugs: the N-type calcium channel blockers, or NCCBs. Its novel mechanism of action as a non-opioid analgesic suggests ziconotide has the potential to play a valuable role in treatment regimens for severe chronic pain. If approved for clinical use, ziconotide will further validate the neuroactive venom peptides as a source of new and useful medicines.
              Article 0 comments Cited 142 times – based on 0 reviews     Review now
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                Author and article information

                Journal
                Journal ID (nlm-ta): Molecules
                Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Molecules
                Journal ID (publisher-id): molecules
                Title: Molecules
                Publisher: Molecular Diversity Preservation International
                ISSN (Electronic): 1420-3049
                Publication date (Electronic): 19 April 2010
                Publication date Collection: April 2010
                Volume: 15
                Issue: 4
                Pages: 2825-2844
                Affiliations
                Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; E-Mail: ray.norton@ 123456wehi.edu.au
                Article
                Publisher ID: molecules-15-02825
                DOI: 10.3390/molecules15042825
                PMC ID: 6257286
                PubMed ID: 20428082
                SO-VID: 64bcbec5-c813-492f-9c50-a5674f1757cc
                Copyright © © 2010 by the authors;
                License:

                licensee Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).

                History
                Date received : 09 March 2010
                Date revision received : 06 April 2010
                Date accepted : 12 April 2010
                Categories
                Subject: Review

                Keywords: cone shell,toxin,sodium channel,pain,peptide mimetic
                Data availability:
                Keywords: cone shell, toxin, sodium channel, pain, peptide mimetic

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