University of Utah Research Foundation

The Salk Institute for Biological Studies

John Dykert

Baldomero M Olivera

Jean E Rivier

Lourdes J Cruz

Chris E Hopkins

Josep L Torres

Fe Abogadie

David R Hillyard

Jean E F Rivier

Maren Watkins

Doju Yoshikami

Ki-Joon Shon

William R Gray

Substantially pure conotoxins are provided which inhibit synaptic transmissions at the neuromuscular junctions and which are useful both in vivo and in assays because they specifically target particular receptors, such as the acetyl-choline receptor, and ion channels. The peptides are of such length that they can be made by chemical synthesis. They also may be made using recombinant DNA techniques, and the DNA encoding such conotoxins having pesticidal properties can be incorporated as plant defense genes into plant species of interest.

Conotoxins I

Substantially pure conotoxin peptides are provided which inhibit synaptic transmissions at the neuromuscular junctions and which are useful both in vivo and in assays because they specifically target particular skeletal nAChRs to the exclusion of neuronal nAChRs. The peptides are of such length that they can be made by chemical synthesis, and the preferred peptides have formula: H-His-4Hyp-4Hyp-Cys-Cys-Leu-Tyr-Gly-Lys-Cys-Arg-Arg-Tyr-4Hyp-Gly-Cys-Ser-S er-Ala-Ser-Cys-Cys-Gln-Xaa.sub.24 -NH.sub.2 wherein Xaa.sub.24 is Arg or Gly.

Conotoxin peptides

Substantially pure conotoxins are provided which inhibit synaptic transmissions at the neuromuscular junctions and which are useful both in vivo and in assays because they specifically target particular receptors, such as the acetylcholine receptor, and ion channels. The peptides are of such length that they can be made by chemical synthesis. They also may be made using recombinant DNA techniques, and the DNA encoding such conotoxins having pesticidal properties can be incorporated as plant defense genes into plant species of interest.

Growing community of inventors

Vista, CA, United States of America

John Dykert