Chemicals and Drugs

Conotoxins

Peptide neurotoxins from the marine fish-hunting snails of the genus CONUS. They contain 13 to 29 amino acids which are strongly basic and are highly cross-linked by disulfide bonds. There are three types of conotoxins, omega-, alpha-, and mu-. OMEGA-CONOTOXINS inhibit voltage-activated entry of calcium into the presynaptic membrane and therefore the release of ACETYLCHOLINE. Alpha-conotoxins inhibit the postsynaptic acetylcholine receptor. Mu-conotoxins prevent the generation of muscle action potentials. (From Concise Encyclopedia Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 3rd ed)

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Peptide neurotoxins from the marine fish-hunting snails of the genus CONUS. They contain 13 to 29 amino acids which are strongly basic and are highly cross-linked by disulfide bonds. There are three types of conotoxins, omega-, alpha-, and mu-. OMEGA-CONOTOXINS inhibit voltage-activated entry of calcium into the presynaptic membrane and therefore the release of ACETYLCHOLINE. Alpha-conotoxins inhibit the postsynaptic acetylcholine receptor. Mu-conotoxins prevent the generation of muscle action potentials. (From Concise Encyclopedia Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 3rd ed)

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Classification

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Drug Class

Pharmacological Action

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Synonyms

9 entry terms
  • Conotoxin
  • alpha-Conotoxin
  • alpha-Conotoxins
  • mu-Conotoxin
  • mu-Conotoxins
  • alpha Conotoxin
  • alpha Conotoxins
  • mu Conotoxin
  • mu Conotoxins

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

24 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, genetics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, radiation effects, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

OMEGA-CONOTOXINS and OMEGA-CONOTOXIN GVIA are available

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History Note

2000

MeSH Record

Previous Indexing

  • Mollusk Venoms (1986-1999)

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AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Conotoxins. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D020916. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D020916
  2. Conotoxins. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conotoxin
  3. Conotoxins. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q417238