Conantokin G

Conantokin G (Con G) is a 17-amino-acid peptide that acts as competitive antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors containing NR2B subunits. The venom ofcone snail, Conus geographus, were first identified and separated to obtain conantokins because it induced a sleep-like state in mice. Conantokins are members of a special family of Conus peptides that include carboxyglutamic acid.

Up to now, three members of conantokins protein have been identified: Con G, T and R. Con G is a linear peptide with residues of γ-carboxyglutamic acid and a high degree of alpha-helicity in the presence of divalent cations.It has the potential to be used as a neuroprotective agent in cases of ischemia and excitotoxic brain injury, neuronal apoptosis, pain, epilepsy, as well as a research tool in drug addiction and Alzheimer’s disease. The Con G’s pharmacological selectivity, coupled with its potency in preclinical disease models, suggest that it can be employed as a probe for NMDA receptor function, as well as for further research as human therapeutics.