U.S.S. CONOTOXIN
Frank Mari's Research on Atlantic and Panamic Cone Snail Species

Florida  Atlantic University	Center for Molecular Biology & Biotechnology

 
Exciting studies of Atlantic and Panamic cone snails species (Conus ssp)  by the research group of
Dr. Frank Mari
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, Florida.

Our research is focussed on the properties of the molecular components of the venom of Atlantic and Panamic (Eastern Pacific) cone snail species. Our aim is to obtain new pharmaceutical leads from previously understudied Conus species.

We collect cone snail specimens in Florida (Palm Beach, Broward and Monroe Counties), throughout the Caribbean (From the Bahamas to Venezuela) and the Panamic Region (Pacific coast of Mexico, Costa Rica and the Republic of Panama). In our laboratories in Boca Raton, we purify the venom components and run various biological assays for neurological effects. We also characterize the components of the venom (Conopeptides) using a variety of techniques including NMR spectroscopy and Mass spectrometry. Our objective is to understand the relationship between the structure of these neuropeptides and the biological responses that they elicit. Further structure-activity studies are also carry out using molecular dynamics simulations.

How did the whole thing started and the early days

Our Playground

Field Work - Some scenes of our cone collecting trips

Cone Snail Species: There are more than 1000 and counting

Atlantic and Panamic cone Snail Species

Pictures and movies of the specimens that we have collected

Conopeptides and their targets

Research Objectives and Strategies

People that do the work...Ok, sometimes is fun too!

Funding and Support

Florida cones and the most likely methods of collection