University of Utah Research Foundation

Heinrich Terlau

Baldomero M Olivera

Ki-Joon Shon

Michelle Grilley

A new peptide, .kappa.-conotoxin PVIIA, is disclosed. This peptide is found naturally in the cone snail Conus purpurascens and has the amino acid sequence Cys-Arg-Ile-Xaa-Asn-Gln-Lys-Cys-Phe-Gln-His-Leu-Asp-Asp-Cys-Cys-Ser-Arg-Ly s-Cys-Asn-Arg-Phe-Asn-Lys-Cys-Val (SEQ ID NO:1) where Xaa represents 4-trans-hydroxyproline hydroxyproline or proline. This peptide together with a previously disclosed peptide, .delta.-conotoxin PVIA, act synergistically to rapidly immobilize fish which are injected with the two peptides. Injection of .kappa.-conotoxin PVIIA alone results in different symptoms with an injected fish becoming hyperactive and then contracting and suddenly extending all major fins. This 'fin-popping' occurs repeatedly resulting in a series of jerky movements, but injection of only .kappa.-conotoxin PVIIA does not immobilize or kill the fish.

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Gottingen, Germany

Heinrich Terlau