Abstract:
The invention relates to k-PVIIA-related conotoxins and their use as organ protecting agents, i.e., organ protectants. These conotoxins can be used for arresting, protecting or preserving an organ, such as a circulatory organ, a respiratory organ, a urinary organ, a digestive organ, a reproductive organ, an endocrine organ or a neurological organ. These conotoxins can also be used for arresting, protecting or preserving somatic cells.
Abstract:
The invention relates to uses of kappa-conotoxin PVIIA (kappa-PVIIA), analogs and derivatives for activating ATP-sensitive K + channels. The activation of ATP-sensitive K + channels is useful for opening K ATP channels which can be used to treat a wide range of disease and injury states, including cerebral and cardiac ischemia and asthma.
Abstract:
The invention relates to relatively short peptides (termed alpha-conotoxins herein), about 10-25 residues in length, which are naturally available in minute amounts in the venom of the cone snails or analogous to the naturally available peptides, and which preferably include two disulfide bonds. The alpha-conotoxins, as described herein, are useful for as neuromuscular blocking agents, such as muscle relaxants.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to conopeptides termed conkunitzins and their use for blocking the flow of potassium ions through voltage-gated potassium channels. In view of the Kunitz domain in the conkunitzins, they are also useful for inhibiting platelet aggregation and as protease inhibitors.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to biotechnology and a method of preparing a library of nucleic acid or amino acid sequences that are phylogenetically related. The method includes the identification of conserved and non-conserved substitutions within a set of sequences and assaying related sequences including the conservative substitutions.
Abstract:
The invention relates to k-PVIIA-related conotoxins and their use as organ protecting agents, i.e., organ protectants. These conotoxins can be used for arresting, protecting or preserving an organ, such as a circulatory organ, a respiratory organ, a urinary organ, a digestive organ, a reproductive organ, an endocrine organ or a neurological organ. These conotoxins can also be used for arresting, protecting or preserving somatic cells.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to contulakin-G (which is the native glycosylated peptide), a des-glycosylated contulakin-G (termed Thr10-contulakin-G), and derivatives thereof, to a cDNA clone encoding a precursor of this mature peptide and to a precursor peptide. The invention is further directed to the use of this peptide as a therapeutic for anti-seizure, anti-inflammatory, anti-shock, anti-thrombus, hypotensive, analgesia, anti-psychotic, Parkinson's disease, gastrointestinal disorders, depressive states, cognitive dysfunction, anxiety, tardive dyskinesia, drug dependency, panic attack, mania, irritable bowel syndrome, diarrhea, ulcer, GI tumors, Tourette's syndrome, Huntington's chorea, vascular leakage, anti-arteriosclerosis, vascular and vasodilation disorders, as well as neurological, neuropharmalogical and neuropsychopharmacological disorders.