PgmNr Z6206: Development of an assay to identify novel modulators of spinal motor activity from the venom of the fish-hunting cone snail Conus catus.

Authors:
J. R. Schulz; K. Medina; J. Sasaki; N. Leung


Institutes
Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA.


Abstract:

The zebrafish model is rapidly being developed for use in neurophysiological studies.  Here we describe the development of a novel small-volume assay utilizing larval zebrafish to identify novel modulators of spinal motor activity in parallel.  The assay is able to quantify the amount motility as well as distinguish the types of movements made in the absence of supraspinal inputs.

Using this assay we have identified novel modulators of spinal motor activity from the collected venom of the fish-hunting cone snail Conus catus. We have also utilized this approach to identify active synthetic neuroexcitatory peptides based on novel sequences identified through deep amplicon sequencing of products specific to the A-superfamily of Conus venom peptides.  This assay, in conjunction with in situ and single cell recordings, extends the utility of the zebrafish model system for venom peptide research and pharmacology.  We foresee that the approaches described here will be enhanced by the growing complement of genetic resources available to the zebrafish community.