New O-superfamily conotoxins fromConus striatus inhabited near Chinese Hainan Island

Conotoxins are short peptide-toxins with specific targets and large diversity. They are useful in analgesia, neuroprotection, detection of some kinds of deseases, and receptor and ion channel study. In order to explore the conotoxin resourses of Chinese oceans, rapid amplification of 3′ cDNA ends (RACE) method was utilized to systemically analyze the O-superfamily conotoxin content ofConus striatus inhabited near Chinese Hainan Island. Six new O-superfamily conopeptides were identified, one of which is highly homologous to MVIIA, an N-type calcium channel antagonist.