Could it be an unexpected cure?
A new study suggests that venom from one of the world’s most poisonous creatures—the geography cone snail—might offer insights into developing new treatments for diabetes and hormone disorders. The research, published on August 20 in Nature Communications, reveals that a toxin in the snail’s venom, known as consomatin, mimics the human hormone somatostatin, which plays a role in regulating blood sugar and hormone levels.
Consomatin, along with another insulin-like toxin found in the snail’s venom, contributes to a significant and prolonged decrease in blood sugar levels in the snail’s prey, effectively rendering them unconscious. This ability to manipulate blood sugar levels could potentially aid scientists in designing improved drugs for managing diabetes and hormone-related conditions.
Ho Yan Yeung, the study’s lead author and a postdoctoral researcher in biochemistry at the University of Utah, humorously described cone snails as “really good chemists.” Senior researcher Helena Safavi, an associate professor of biochemistry at the same university, explained that the evolution of venom components in these animals is highly specialized for targeting and disrupting specific physiological processes in their prey. Isolating these components can reveal pathways that are relevant for treating human diseases.
Consomatin, unlike somatostatin which interacts with several proteins in human cells, targets a single protein, offering a more precise approach to regulating blood sugar levels. This specificity makes consomatin potentially more effective than current synthetic medications used to manage hormone levels. Additionally, consomatin remains active in the body longer than somatostatin due to its unique amino acid composition, which makes it more resistant to breakdown.
Although consomatin itself might be too hazardous to use directly as a medication, its structure could inspire new drug developments aimed at modulating hormone levels. Researchers also speculate that other components of the cone snail’s venom might hold additional secrets for diabetes treatment, as multiple toxins in the venom target blood sugar regulation.
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