ABSTRACT
The venom of the Conus species is composed of conotoxins, which are neurotoxins of low molecular weight. The geographic cone snail, which is one of the most venomous creatures on the earth and is known to have killed dozens of people in accidental encounters No antidote exists for a cone snail sting. The action of conotoxins is extremely fast, which is compatible with the slowness of the snail in its environment and the consequent difficulty involved in capturing the poisoned prey. The action of the conotoxins occurs by blockage of muscular and neural receptors. There are two different toxin effects in the venom. The first, the “lightning-strike” effect, causes immediate immobilization of the injected prey through peptides that inhibit voltage-gated sodium channel inactivation, as well as peptides that block potassium channels. Together, this combination results in a massive depolarization of any axons in the immediate
vicinity of the venom injection site, causing an effect similar to electrocuting the prey. The second effect is achieved more slowly and involves total inhibition of neuromuscular transmission through conopeptides, which act at sites remote from the venom injection site, such as neuromuscular junctions.
