Conotoxins

By Simon Cotton2006-11-01T00:00:00

Source: iStock

Simon Cotton takes a look at those compounds that find themselves in the news or relate to our everyday lives

Conotoxins, or conopeptides, are chemicals made by marine snails that live in shallow waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. These snails have beautiful shells that make them prime targets for collectors. Snails use conotoxins to paralyse prey, such as other molluscs, worms and fish.

But how? And is there more than one kind of conotoxin?

Simon Cotton discusses

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