Mass Spectrometry-based Sequencing of Venom Peptides (Conotoxins) from Vermivorous Cone Snail, Conus Loroisii: Toxicity of its Natural Venom

Abstract

Conus loroisii is a marine vermivorous snail found profusely in the southern seas of India. They harbor several toxic peptide components commonly called as ‘conotoxins’. In this study, we have identified and sequenced five conotoxins using proteome based tandem mass spectrometry analysis through Data analysis 4.1 software. Among them, we found Lo959 as contryphan which is previously described. All other conotoxins Lo1702, Lo1410, Lo1385 and Lo1686 belong to M-Superfamily conotoxins and novel to C. loroisii. Lo1410 is completely novel to conotoxin research with 3 disulfides and the amino acid sequence is derived as CCSTNCAVCIPCCP. All the identified M-Superfamily conotoxins are sub categorised to mini M2 superfamily conotoxins. Lo1702 and Lo1686 possess C- terminal amidation which is the key feature in conotoxins. Moreover, we have screened the natural venom for the occurrence of toxicity in the zebrafish model and brine shrimp.