A conotoxin is one of a group of neurotoxic peptides isolated from the venom of the marine cone snail. The term neurotoxic is used to describe a substance, condition or state that damages the nervous system and / or brain, usually by killing neurons. ... Peptides (from the Greek πεπτος, digestible), are the family of molecules formed from the linking, in a defined order, of various amino acids. ... Genera Asprella Chelyconus Conus Floraconus Leptoconus The cone snails or cone shells (Conidae) are marine snails found in coral reefs. ...

Conotoxins, which are peptides consisting of 10 to 30 amino acid residues, typically have some disulfide bonds. Conotoxins have a variety of activities, most of which have not been explained closely yet. The number of conotoxins whose activities have been determined so far is five, and they are called the α-, δ-, κ-, μ-, and ω types. Each of the five types of conotoxins attacks a different target: α-conotoxin attacks acetylcholine receptors at nerves and muscles, δ-conotoxin inhibits the inactivation of voltage-dependent sodium channels, κ-conotoxin inhibits potassium channels, μ-conotoxin inhibits voltage-dependent sodium ion channels in muscles, and ω-conotoxin inhibits N-type voltage-dependent calcium channels. Because N-type voltage-dependent calcium channels are related to algesia (sensitivity to pain) in the nervous system, ω-conotoxin has an analgesic effect: the effect of ω-conotoxin M VII A is 100 to 1000 times that of morphine. Therefore ω-conotoxin M VII A is used as an analgesic drug named ziconotide; it is marketed under the brand name Prialt®. In chemistry, an amino acid is any molecule that contains both amino and carboxylic acid functional groups. ... A disulfide bond (SS-bond), also called a disulfide bridge, is a strong covalent bond between two sulfhydryl groups. ... An acetylcholine receptor (abbreviated AChR) is an integral membrane protein that responds to the binding of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. ...    Nerves redirects here. ... A top-down view of skeletal muscle Muscle is a contractile form of tissue. ... In cell biology, potassium channels are the most common type of ion channel. ... Ion channels are present in the membranes that surround all biological cells. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... According to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), one should distinguish between pain and nociception. ... An analgesic (colloquially known as painkiller) is any member of the diverse group of drugs used to relieve pain and to achieve analgesia. ... Morphine (INN), the principal active agent in opium, is a powerful opioid analgesic drug. ... Ziconotide is a non-opioid, non local anesthetic used for the amelioration of chronic pain. ...