Analysis Kinetics of CTX-MI in Tap Water by BLI (CAT#: STEM-MB-0276-CJ)

Introduction

Conus species are carnivorous gastropods living in tropical and subtropical oceans. Their venom ducts and poison glands secrete varieties of toxic polypeptides during predation and defense, which are called conotoxins (CTXs). Enormous gene families, abundant cysteines, and various post-translational modifications contribute to the diversity of CTXs. As a class of neurotoxins, CTXs act on a variety of ion channels and receptors throughout the nervous system, such as acetylcholine receptors and voltage-gated Na+ channels, with high selectivity and potency. The sting of cone snails can cause paralysis, dizziness, convulsion, respiratory failure, or even death. Alpha-conotoxin MI (CTX-MI), which was first isolated from Conus magus, is considered as the most venomous species. CTX-MI is a short peptide of 14 amino acids (GRCCHPACGKNYSC-NH2), which forms two disulfide bonds (Cys3-Cys8 and Cys1-Cys14) and selectively inhibits muscular acetylcholine receptors.