Discovery, Synthesis, and Structure Activity Relationships of Conotoxins

Peptide therapeutics are acclaimed as a promising addition to the pharmaceutical arena, and they continue to attract interest due to their high potency, bioavailability, and fewer concerns with toxicity, drug to drug cross-reactions, and tissue accumulation. Around 700 species of marine snails of the genus Conus are distributed throughout tropical and subtropical waters. As different species preferentially hunt fish, worms, or molluscs they are categorized as piscivorous, vermivorous, or molluscivorous, respectively, although some cone snail species can feed on more than one prey type. These slow-moving creatures evolved into predators through incorporation of a specialized envenomation apparatus that enables them to quickly subdue their fast-moving prey. Conotoxins target a wide range of receptors and ion channels with unparalleled potency and selectivity. They have consequently become the subject of intense research in light of their immense diagnostic and therapeutic potential and are the focus of this review.