Analysis of a cone snail's killer cocktail--the milked venom of Conus geographus

Jon-Paul Bingham; Margaret R Baker; Joycelyn B Chun

doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.07.014

Analysis of a cone snail's killer cocktail--the milked venom of Conus geographus

Toxicon. 2012 Nov;60(6):1166-70. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.07.014. Epub 2012 Aug 4.

Authors

Jon-Paul Bingham¹, Margaret R Baker, Joycelyn B Chun

Affiliation

¹ Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA. jbingham@hawaii.edu

Abstract

"Snails can kill" is a statement that receives much disbelief. Yet the venom from Conus geographus, as delivered by a disposable hypodermic-like needle, has indeed killed many unsuspecting human victims. Our understanding of their milked venom the essence of these fatalities, is in itself non-existent. Here, we present the molecular mass analysis of the milked venom of C. geographus, providing the first insight into the composition of its deadly cocktail.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
Conus Snail / chemistry*
Molecular Sequence Data
Molecular Weight
Mollusk Venoms / analysis*
Species Specificity
Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Substances

Mollusk Venoms

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding