Structure-activity studies of cysteine-Rich α-conotoxins that inhibit high-voltage-activated calcium channels via GABAB receptor activation reveal a minimal functional motif

Date

2016

Authors

Carstens, B.
Berecki, G.
Daniel, J.
Lee, H.
Jackson, K.
Tae, H.
Sadeghi, M.
Castro, J.
O'Donnell, T.
Deiteren, A.

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Journal article

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Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2016; 55(15):4692-4696

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Bodil B. Carstens, Géza Berecki, James T. Daniel, Han Siean Lee, Kathryn A. V. Jackson, Han- Shen Tae, Mahsa Sadeghi, Joel Castro, Tracy O'Donnell, Annemie Deiteren, Stuart M. Brierley, David J. Craik, David J. Adams, and Richard J. Clark

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Abstract

α-Conotoxins are disulfide-rich peptides that target nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Recently we identified several α-conotoxins that also modulate voltage-gated calcium channels by acting as G protein-coupled GABAB receptor (GABAB R) agonists. These α-conotoxins are promising drug leads for the treatment of chronic pain. To elucidate the diversity of α-conotoxins that act through this mechanism, we synthesized and characterized a set of peptides with homology to α-conotoxins known to inhibit high voltage-activated calcium channels via GABAB R activation. Remarkably, all disulfide isomers of the active α-conotoxins Pu1.2 and Pn1.2, and the previously studied Vc1.1 showed similar levels of biological activity. Structure determination by NMR spectroscopy helped us identify a simplified biologically active eight residue peptide motif containing a single disulfide bond that is an excellent lead molecule for developing a new generation of analgesic peptide drugs.

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Version of Record online: 7 MAR 2016

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© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

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