Hunting Snails and the Quest for Drug Discovery

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Hunting Snails and the Quest for Drug Discovery

• Lauren B. French
• Andrew Zayachkivsky Danielle Schlorff
• Neuroscience Program/Biology Dept.

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Designing a predator Whats the fastest way to
kill an animal?
Target the nervous system!
Examples of specialists

• Spiders
• Scorpions
• Snakes
• Snails!

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Pichrell, 2003
www.nigms.nih.gov
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Olivera, 1997
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From Terlau et al., 1996
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Conus Venom/ Conotoxins

• 500 species of cone snails
• Each species has unique venom
• Venom comprised of 50-200 peptides ( conotoxins)
• Each peptide specifically targets different
  nervous system proteins
• Diversity specificity important

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Medical applications of conotoxins

• Diagnosis of rare neuromuscular disorder
• Anticonvulsant
• Pain killer (alternative to morphine)
• Basic bench research

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Xenopus Oocyte Expression System
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One example of current expression (hSlo)
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Another example with a different gene
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Shal before application of 4-AP 750nA _at_ 40mV
Shal After application of 4-AP 375nA _at_ 40mV
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Conclusions and Future Directions

• Conus venom ho!
• These techniques are amenable to undergraduates.
• Success at Allegheny could lead to many possible
  collaborations.
• Basic research, pharmaceuticals
• So, shouldnt the NSF fund this project?!