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Cone Snail Case
Cone Snail case Cone snail molecular phylogeny Cone snail video Snail Venom Yields Potent Painkiller, But Delivering The Drug Is Tricky Updated August 4, 201510:52 AM ETPublished August 3, 20153:30 PM ET http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/08/03/428990755/snail-venom- yields-potent-painkiller-but-delivering-the-drug-is-tricky Magician’s cone (Conus magus) The magician’s cone, Conus magus, is a fish-hunting, or piscivorous cone snail found in the Western Pacific. It is so common in some of small Pacific islands, especially in the Philippines, that it is routinely sold in the market as food. The magician’s cone attacks its fish prey by sticking out its light yellowish proboscis, from which venom is pushed through a harpoon-like tooth. It hunts by the hook-and-line method and so will engulf its prey after it has been paralyzed. To learn more about hook-and-line hunters, click here. Scientists have analyzed the venom of the magician’s cone and one of its venom components was discovered to have a unique pharmacological activity by blocking a specific calcium channel (N-type). After this venom component was isolated and characterized in a laboratory, researchers realized that it had potential medical application. By blocking N-type calcium channels, the venom blocks channels that when open convey pain from nerve cells. If this is blocked, the brain cannot perceive these pain signals. It was developed as a pain management drug, and is now chemically synthesized and sold under the trade name Prialt. This drug is given to patients who have very severe pain that is not alliviated by morphine. -
Shell Classification – Using Family Plates
Shell Classification USING FAMILY PLATES YEAR SEVEN STUDENTS Introduction In the following activity you and your class can use the same techniques as Queensland Museum The Queensland Museum Network has about scientists to classify organisms. 2.5 million biological specimens, and these items form the Biodiversity collections. Most specimens are from Activity: Identifying Queensland shells by family. Queensland’s terrestrial and marine provinces, but These 20 plates show common Queensland shells some are from adjacent Indo-Pacific regions. A smaller from 38 different families, and can be used for a range number of exotic species have also been acquired for of activities both in and outside the classroom. comparative purposes. The collection steadily grows Possible uses of this resource include: as our inventory of the region’s natural resources becomes more comprehensive. • students finding shells and identifying what family they belong to This collection helps scientists: • students determining what features shells in each • identify and name species family share • understand biodiversity in Australia and around • students comparing families to see how they differ. the world All shells shown on the following plates are from the • study evolution, connectivity and dispersal Queensland Museum Biodiversity Collection. throughout the Indo-Pacific • keep track of invasive and exotic species. Many of the scientists who work at the Museum specialise in taxonomy, the science of describing and naming species. In fact, Queensland Museum scientists -
Conus Geographus, 70% Fatality Rate
VENOMOUS CONE SNAILS (FISH - HUNTING SPECIES) Some kill people: Conus geographus, 70% fatality rate. 3 F2 4 different clades of fish-hunting cone snails harpoon tooth proboscis tip Lightning-strike cabal -Conotoxin - INCREASES Na channel conductance k-Conotoxin - Blocks K channels Others - ? k-PVIIA CRIONQKCFQHLDDCCSRKCNRFNKCV -PVIA EACYAOGTFCGIKOGLCCSEFCLPGVCFG Prey Capture Excitotoxic Neuromuscular 1 Shock 2 Block Very rapid, fish stunned Irreversible paralysis Lightning-strike cabal Lightning strike constellation -Conotoxin - INCREASES Na channel conductance k-Conotoxin - Blocks K channels -Conotoxin - Activates Na Channels Con-ikot-ikot - Inhibits Glu receptor desensitization Motor cabal Motor constellation w-Conotoxin - Blocks Ca channels a-Conotoxin - Competitive nicotinic receptor inhibitor y-Conotoxin - Nicotinic receptor channel blocker? m-Conotoxin - BLOCKS Na channel conductance Conus geographus • The Deadliest Snail in the Ocean Net Strategy Sensory Deadening Neuromuscular Block (Nirvana Cabal) (Motor Cabal) Nirvana Cabal Sedated, quiescent state Motor Cabal Neuromuscular transmission block Nirvana cabal Targeted to sensory circuitry: s-Conotoxin - 5HT3 receptor blocker * Conantokin - NMDA receptor blocker * “Sluggish” peptide “Sleeper” peptides “Weaponized” insulin Mature venom insulin is post-translationally modified Con-Ins G1 Highly expressed in venom gland Highly abundant in C. geographus venom Helena Hemami-Safavi Activity testing Adam Douglass SafaviSantosh-Hemami Karanth et al. 2015, Amnon PNAS Schlegel Venom insulin: proposed mechanism of action Adminstration of insulin causes glucose uptake from the blood into liver and muscle tissue Insulin overdose: rapid depletion of blood glucose leads to insufficient glucose supply for the brain: dizziness, nausea, coma and death Insulin shock, hypoglycemic shock Insulin as a murder weapon, the Sunny von Bülow case: American heiress and socialite. Her husband, Claus von Bülow, was convicted of attempting her murder by insulin overdose C. -
Antiproliferative Effect of the Red Sea Cone Snail, Conus Geographus
Alburae & Mohammed Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research March 2020; 19 (3): 577-581 ISSN: 1596-5996 (print); 1596-9827 (electronic) © Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001 Nigeria. Available online at http://www.tjpr.org http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v19i3.17 Original Research Article Antiproliferative effect of the Red Sea cone snail, Conus geographus Najla Ali Alburae1*, Afrah Eltayeb Mohammed2 1Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, PO Box 80203, Jeddah 21589, 2Biology Department, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, PO Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia *For correspondence: Email: [email protected]; Tel.: +966-50-33710116 Sent for review: 19 October 2019 Revised accepted: 21 February 2020 Abstract Purpose: To investigate the antiproliferative effect of the Red Sea cone snail, Conus geographus, against 4 MCF-7 (breast), MDA-MB-231 (epithelial human breast), HepG2 (hepatocellular) and SKOV-3 (ovarian) cancer cell lines. Methods: Extraction of Red Sea cone snail sample with a mixture of CH2Cl2 and CH3OH (1:1, v/v) yielded 0.55 g of a green viscous material. The cytotoxic effects of the organic extract against the cancer cell lines were determined using cell proliferation (MTT) assay, and the half-maximal concentration (IC50) values measured. The effect of the crude extract on the cell cycle of the HepG-2 was determined by flow cytometry. Results: The extract produced significant inhibitory effects against SKOV-3, MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 and HepG2, with IC50 values of 22.7 ± 2.2, 68.7 ± 6.2, 47 ± 4.2 and 19 ± 2.1 µg/mL, respectively. -
The Hawaiian Species of Conus (Mollusca: Gastropoda)1
The Hawaiian Species of Conus (Mollusca: Gastropoda) 1 ALAN J. KOHN2 IN THECOURSE OF a comparative ecological currents are factors which could plausibly study of gastropod mollus ks of the genus effect the isolation necessary for geographic Conus in Hawaii (Ko hn, 1959), some 2,400 speciation . specimens of 25 species were examined. Un Of the 33 species of Conus considered in certainty ofthe correct names to be applied to this paper to be valid constituents of the some of these species prompted the taxo Hawaiian fauna, about 20 occur in shallow nomic study reported here. Many workers water on marine benches and coral reefs and have contributed to the systematics of the in bays. Of these, only one species, C. ab genus Conus; nevertheless, both nomencla breviatusReeve, is considered to be endemic to torial and biological questions have persisted the Hawaiian archipelago . Less is known of concerning the correct names of a number of the species more characteristic of deeper water species that occur in the Hawaiian archi habitats. Some, known at present only from pelago, here considered to extend from Kure dredging? about the Hawaiian Islands, may (Ocean) Island (28.25° N. , 178.26° W.) to the in the future prove to occur elsewhere as island of Hawaii (20.00° N. , 155.30° W.). well, when adequate sampling methods are extended to other parts of the Indo-West FAUNAL AFFINITY Pacific region. As is characteristic of the marine fauna of ECOLOGY the Hawaiian Islands, the affinities of Conus are with the Indo-Pacific center of distribu Since the ecology of Conus has been dis tion . -
Xoimi AMERICAN COXCIIOLOGY
S31ITnS0NIAN MISCEllANEOUS COLLECTIOXS. BIBLIOGIIAPHY XOimi AMERICAN COXCIIOLOGY TREVIOUS TO THE YEAR 18G0. PREPARED FOR THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION BY . W. G. BINNEY. PART II. FOKEIGN AUTHORS. WASHINGTON: SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. JUNE, 1864. : ADYERTISEMENT, The first part of the Bibliography of American Conchology, prepared for the Smithsonian Institution by Mr. Binuey, was published in March, 1863, and embraced the references to de- scriptions of shells by American authors. The second part of the same work is herewith presented to the public, and relates to species of North American shells referred to by European authors. In foreign works binomial authors alone have been quoted, and no species mentioned which is not referred to North America or some specified locality of it. The third part (in an advanced stage of preparation) will in- clude the General Index of Authors, the Index of Generic and Specific names, and a History of American Conchology, together with any additional references belonging to Part I and II, that may be met with. JOSEPH HENRY, Secretary S. I. Washington, June, 1864. (" ) PHILADELPHIA COLLINS, PRINTER. CO]^TENTS. Advertisement ii 4 PART II.—FOREIGN AUTHORS. Titles of Works and Articles published by Foreign Authors . 1 Appendix II to Part I, Section A 271 Appendix III to Part I, Section C 281 287 Appendix IV .......... • Index of Authors in Part II 295 Errata ' 306 (iii ) PART II. FOEEIGN AUTHORS. ( V ) BIBLIOGRxVPHY NOETH AMERICAN CONCHOLOGY. PART II. Pllipps.—A Voyage towards the North Pole, &c. : by CON- STANTiNE John Phipps. Loudou, ITTJc. Pa. BIBLIOGRAPHY OF [part II. FaliricillS.—Fauna Grcenlandica—systematice sistens ani- malia GrcEulandite occidentalis liactenus iudagata, &c., secun dum proprias observatioues Othonis Fabricii. -
Chemical Synthesis and NMR Solution Structure of Conotoxin GXIA from Conus Geographus
marine drugs Article Chemical Synthesis and NMR Solution Structure of Conotoxin GXIA from Conus geographus David A. Armstrong 1, Ai-Hua Jin 2, Nayara Braga Emidio 2 , Richard J. Lewis 2 , Paul F. Alewood 2 and K. Johan Rosengren 1,* 1 School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; [email protected] 2 Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; [email protected] (A.-H.J.); [email protected] (N.B.E.); [email protected] (R.J.L.); [email protected] (P.F.A.) * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Conotoxins are disulfide-rich peptides found in the venom of cone snails. Due to their exquisite potency and high selectivity for a wide range of voltage and ligand gated ion channels they are attractive drug leads in neuropharmacology. Recently, cone snails were found to have the capability to rapidly switch between venom types with different proteome profiles in response to predatory or defensive stimuli. A novel conotoxin, GXIA (original name G117), belonging to the I3-subfamily was identified as the major component of the predatory venom of piscivorous Conus geographus. Using 2D solution NMR spectroscopy techniques, we resolved the 3D structure for GXIA, the first structure reported for the I3-subfamily and framework XI family. The 32 amino acid peptide is comprised of eight cysteine residues with the resultant disulfide connectivity forming an ICK+1 motif. With a triple stranded β-sheet, the GXIA backbone shows striking similarity to Citation: Armstrong, D.A.; Jin, A.-H.; several tarantula toxins targeting the voltage sensor of voltage gated potassium and sodium channels. -
Description of a New Species of the Genus Raphitoma Bellardi, 1847 from the Mediterranean Sea (Mollusca Neogastropoda Conoidea Raphitomidae)
Biodiversity Journal, 2017, 8 (1): 205–210 MONOGRAPH Description of a new species of the genus Raphitoma Bellardi, 1847 from the Mediterranean Sea (Mollusca Neogastropoda Conoidea Raphitomidae) Francesco Pusateri1, Riccardo Giannuzzi Savelli2* & Peter Stahlschmidt3 1via Castellana 64, 90135 Palermo, Italy; e-mail: [email protected] 2via Mater Dolorosa 54, 90146 Palermo, Italy; e-mail: [email protected] 3University of Koblenz-Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, Fortstraße 7 - 76829 Landau, Germany; e-mail: [email protected] *Corresponding author ABSTRACT The family of Raphitomidae is currently considered a well supported clade of the Conoidea. The type genus Raphitoma Bellardi, 1847 is well known in the mediterranen Seas with about 40 species, some of which are still undescribed. Morphological analyses carried out on the genus Raphitoma Bellardi, 1847 (Mollusca Neogastropoda Conoidea Raphitomidae) from Mediterranean Sea allowed to identify a new species which is described in the present paper. KEY WORDS Raphitoma; Conoidea; new species; Mediterranean Sea. Received 12.01.2016; accepted 28.02.2017; printed 30.03.2017 Proceedings of the 3rd International Congress “Biodiversity, Mediterranean, Society”, September 4th-6th 2015, Noto- Vendicari (Italy) INTRODUCTION as “turrids”, and Turridae s.s. including some of the traditional “turrids”. More recently, Puillandre et al. The Raphitomidae Bellardi, 1875 are currently (2008) and Bouchet et al. (2011), based on DNA considered a well supported clade of the Conoidea phylogeny, have provided a major update of con- (Bouchet et al., 2011). oidean classification. Although a larger taxonomic The superfamily Conoidea, with over 300 gen- coverage would be desirable to further stabilize the era and 4,000 recognised species, but probably over molecular phylogeny, however, the position of the 12,000 extant species (Bouchet, 1990; Tucker, Raphitomidae as a clade of the Conoidea is suffi- 2004), represents the largest radiation of the entire ciently supported. -
Notes on Afonsoconus Tucker & Tenorio, 2013
Notes on Afonsoconus Tucker & Tenorio, 2013 (Gastropoda, Conidae), with description of a new species from the Southwestern Indian Ocean Manuel Tenorio, Eric Monnier, Nicolas Puillandre To cite this version: Manuel Tenorio, Eric Monnier, Nicolas Puillandre. Notes on Afonsoconus Tucker & Tenorio, 2013 (Gastropoda, Conidae), with description of a new species from the Southwestern Indian Ocean. Eu- ropean Journal of Taxonomy, Consortium of European Natural History Museums, 2018, 472, pp.1-20. 10.5852/ejt.2018.472. hal-01919489 HAL Id: hal-01919489 https://hal.sorbonne-universite.fr/hal-01919489 Submitted on 12 Nov 2018 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution| 4.0 International License European Journal of Taxonomy 472: 1–20 ISSN 2118-9773 https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2018.472 www.europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu 2018 · Tenorio M.J. et al. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Research article urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C3C58B17-9AAB-4AD2-88DD-498AFBF27016 Notes on Afonsoconus Tucker & Tenorio, 2013 (Gastropoda, Conidae), with description of a new species from the Southwestern Indian Ocean Manuel J. TENORIO 1,*, Eric MONNIER 2 & Nicolas PUILLANDRE 3 1 Dept. -
Lectotype Designation for Murex Nebula Montagu 1803 (Mangeliidae) and Its Implications for Bela Leach in Gray 1847
Zootaxa 3884 (1): 045–054 ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2014 Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3884.1.3 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2F08C408-528D-405C-92E2-27FFCCA95720 Lectotype designation for Murex nebula Montagu 1803 (Mangeliidae) and its implications for Bela Leach in Gray 1847 SCARPONI DANIELE1*, BERNARD LANDAU2, RONALD JANSSEN3, HOLLY MORGENROTH4 & GIANO DELLA BELLA5 1 Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Bologna University, Via Zamboni 67, 40126, Bologna, Italy 2 Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, The Netherlands and Departamento de Geologia e Centro de Geologia, Faculdade de Ciên- cias, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal. E-mail:[email protected] 3 Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. E-mail: [email protected] 4Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, Queen Street, Exeter, Great Britain. E-mail: [email protected]. 5Museo Geologico Giovanni Capellini, Via Zamboni 63, 40126 Bologna, Italy *Corresponding author: Daniele Scarponi. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract Bela Leach in Gray is a misapplied and broadly defined genus within the family Mangeliidae Fischer, 1883. Examination of material from the Montagu collection at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery (RAMM) in Exeter (UK) led to the discovery of six specimens of Murex nebula Montagu 1803 (the type species of Bela). This material is considered to belong to the original lot used by Montagu to define his species. We selected the best-preserved specimen as a lectotype. -
Radular Morphology of Conus (Gastropoda: Caenogastropoda: Conidae) from India
Molluscan Research 27(3): 111–122 ISSN 1323-5818 http://www.mapress.com/mr/ Magnolia Press Radular morphology of Conus (Gastropoda: Caenogastropoda: Conidae) from India J. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, 1, 3 S. ANTONY FERNANDO, 1 B. A. CHALKE, 2 K. S. KRISHNAN. 2, 3* 1.Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Parangipettai-608 502, Cuddalore, Tamilnadu, India. 2.Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai-400 005, India. 3.National Centre for Biological Sciences, TIFR, Old Bellary Road, Bangalore-560 065, India.* Corresponding author E-mail: (K. S. Krishnan): [email protected]. Abstract Radular morphologies of 22 species of the genus Conus from Indian coastal waters were analyzed by optical and scanning elec- tron microscopy. Although the majority of species in the present study are vermivorous, all three feeding modes known to occur in the genus are represented. Specific radular-tooth structures consistently define feeding modes. Species showing simi- lar feeding modes also show fine differences in radular structures. We propose that these structures will be of value in species identification in cases of ambiguity in other characteristics. Examination of eight discrete radular-tooth components has allowed us to classify the studied species of Conus into three groups. We see much greater inter-specific differences amongst vermivorous than amongst molluscivorous and piscivorous species. We have used these differences to provide a formula for species identification. The radular teeth of Conus araneosus, C. augur, C. bayani, C. biliosus, C. hyaena, C. lentiginosus, C. loroisii, and C. malacanus are illustrated for the first time. In a few cases our study has also enabled the correction of some erroneous descriptions in the literature. -
Five New Species of Jaspidiconus Petuch, 2004 (Conilithidae: Conilithinae) from the Caribbean Molluscan Province
ISSN 0738-9388 172 Volume: 48 THE FESTIVUS ISSUE 3 Five New Species of Jaspidiconus Petuch, 2004 (Conilithidae: Conilithinae) from the Caribbean Molluscan Province Edward J. Petuch1, David P. Berschauer2, and André Poremski3 1 Department of Geosciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida 33431 [email protected] 2 25461 Barents Street, Laguna Hills, California 92653 [email protected] 3 51 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20001 [email protected] ABSTRACT Five new species of the endemic western Atlantic conilithid genus Jaspidiconus Petuch, 2004 are described from the Caribbean Molluscan Province: Jaspidiconus boriqua n. sp. (endemic to Puerto Rico), Jaspidiconus culebranus n. sp. (endemic to Culebra Island), Jaspidiconus janapatriceae n. sp. (endemic to Grand Cayman Island), Jaspidiconus marcusi n. sp. (endemic to Eleuthera Island, Bahamas), and Jaspidiconus masinoi n. sp. (endemic to the Utila Cays, Honduras). With the addition of these five new taxa, 40 Jaspidiconus species have now been described from the Tropical Western Atlantic Region, with at least 25 others still in need of description. KEY WORDS Conilithidae, Jaspidiconus, Tropical Western Atlantic Region, Caribbean Molluscan Province, Bahamian Subprovince, Antillean Subprovince, Nicaraguan Subprovince, Jaspidiconus boriqua, Jaspidiconus culebranus, Jaspidiconus janapatriceae, Jaspidiconus marcusi, Jaspidiconus masinoi, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Honduras. biogeographical provinces of the Tropical INTRODUCTION Western Atlantic Region (the Carolinian, Caribbean, and Brazilian Molluscan Provinces; The conilithid genus Jaspidiconus Petuch, 2004 see Petuch and Sargent, 2011; Petuch, Myers, is the single largest group of cone shells found and Berschauer, 2015). As in many conoideans, in the western Atlantic, containing 35 described most Jaspidiconus species exhibit direct species and at least 25 still-undescribed species.