Conorfamide, a Conus venom peptide belonging to the RFamide family of neuropeptides

摘要

A novel Conus peptide, conorfamide-Srl, has been characterized. The sequence of tile natural peptide was determined using standard Edman sequencing methods and mass spectrometry, and confirmed by chemical synthesis. The peptide has 12 amino acids and no cysteine residues. The following sequence was obtained: GPMGWVPVFYRF-NH2 No other peptide from a vermivorous Atlantic Conus species has previously been characterized. Conorfamide-Srl belongs to the RFamide neuropeptide family, and is the first RFamide peptide to be found in any venom. The presence of conorfamide-Srl as a major peptide in Conus spurius venom suggests that Conus lineages in the Atlantic may have evolved novel Conus venom peptide families.