New study results suggest that the poisonous cone snail has an insulin-like agent that has potentialTreatment options for diabetescould offer. The shellfish is popular with shell collectors because of its colorful patterns, but it can cause paralysis. The study authors have now shown that his so-called Con-Ins poison could contribute to the development of fast-acting medications for diabetics.
Why the poisonous cone snail opens up future treatment options
The current research showed that the modeled variants of snail insulin bind to receptors in the body even better than the human hormone. In addition, these could potentially work more quickly in diabetics. This makes the poisonous cone snail a favorable option for stabilizing blood sugar levels, as well as a potential drug candidate. The research team was able to observe how the venom triggers a hypoglycemic response that lowers blood sugar levels. The scientists were able to create new variants that consisted of much shorter peptide chains than human insulin. They were missing the last eight residues of the B chain of human insulin. The team found that each insulin complex remained stable throughout the simulations and the designed peptides bound even better than the naturally occurring human insulin hormone.
The researchers then compared the interactions with the human insulin receptor. They found that each Con-Ins variant has few viable residue substitutions in human insulin. Given the new findings, this poison could be a viable replacement for insulin. Additionally, the study authors hope it will motivate future designs for new fast-acting drug options. However, the insulin-like venom that certain cone snails release can be very dangerous. It causes hypoglycemic shock, immobilizing fish and potential prey. The so-called C. geographus (poisonous cone snail) has the most poisonous stinger known among the species. There are reports of human deaths, particularly among divers who are unaware of the snail's venom. Althoughthis studyrequires further clinical investigation, the results are promising for the research community.
