A groundbreaking study by researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Utah has revealed a fascinating discovery about the deadly fish-hunting cone snail, Conus geographus. This research has uncovered how this marine predator disrupts the glucose homeostasis of its prey using a sophisticated cocktail of toxins, providing new insights into the evolution of venom and its potential applications in medicine.
The cone snail, Conus geographus, is a small but highly effective predator found in tropical marine environments. It preys on fish by releasing venom that contains a powerful blend of toxins, which the snail uses to immobilize and capture its prey. The new study has shown that this venom includes weaponized versions of insulin and somatostatin—two hormones crucial for regulating blood sugar levels. The venom not only causes hypoglycemic shock in the prey but also inhibits the counteracting hormone glucagon, leaving the fish in a state of extreme weakness.
“Venomous animals have evolved diverse molecular mechanisms to incapacitate prey,” says , Ho Yan Yeung, the lead researcher from the University of Utah. “This discovery highlights a unique example of how certain fish-hunting cone snails use weaponized insulins and somatostatins to induce hypoglycemic shock in prey, an approach that is both elegant and deadly.
To study the venom parts of Conus geographus, the research team used cutting-edge molecular biology methods, such as venom gland transcriptomics and functional assays. By separating and studying these parts, they found a key peptide called Consomatin nG1. This peptide acts like somatostatin in vertebrates and specifically targets the somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) in fish. This peptide inhibits the release of glucagon, a hormone that typically counteracts insulin’s effects by raising blood sugar levels, exacerbating the venom’s hypoglycemic effects.
The team also used bioinformatics to compare the snail’s venom peptides with those found in fish, discovering that these venom peptides closely mimic the prey’s own hormones. This chemical mimicry allows the venom to effectively hijack the prey’s physiological processes, rendering it helpless. The findings have significant implications, not only for understanding the evolution of venom in marine predators, but also for potential biomedical applications.
The study suggests that these venom peptides could inspire new drugs for managing blood sugar levels in humans, particularly for conditions like diabetes. Dr. Safavi-Hemami says, “The discovery of these weaponized hormones offers a new perspective on how natural compounds can influence physiological processes.” “By studying these peptides, we may be able to develop new therapeutic agents that are more effective and have fewer side effects than current treatments.” To harness the potential of these findings, the researchers propose further studies into the structure and function of these venom peptides.
They suggest that pharmaceutical companies explore these natural compounds as models for developing new drugs. Additionally, they recommend the development of synthetic analogs of these peptides to investigate their efficacy in regulating blood sugar levels in humans. Practical recommendations include encouraging the scientific community to conduct more in-depth studies on the structure-activity relationship of these venom peptides, exploring the potential of these peptides as templates for new diabetes treatments, and raising awareness among medical professionals and the general public about the potential benefits of these natural compounds.
This study underscores the importance of understanding natural mechanisms as sources of innovation in medicine. By studying the venom of the cone snail, researchers have uncovered a sophisticated strategy that could lead to significant advancements in treating blood sugar disorders. As we continue to explore the natural world, there is no telling what other secrets might be waiting to inspire the next breakthrough in science and medicine.
Yeung, H. Y., Ramiro, I. B. L., Andersen, D. B., Koch, T. L., Hamilton, A., Bjørn-Yoshimoto, W. E., Espino, S., Vakhrushev, S. Y., Pedersen, K. B., de Haan, N., Hipgrave Ederveen, A. L., Olivera, B. M., Knudsen, J. G., Bräuner-Osborne, H., Schjoldager, K. T., Holst, J. J., & Safavi-Hemami, H. (2024). Fish-hunting cone snail disrupts prey’s glucose homeostasis with weaponized mimetics of somatostatin and insulin. Nature Communications, 15(6408). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-50470-2
