ALPHA CONOTOXIN PEPTIDES WITH ANALGESIC PROPERTIES

摘要

This invention relates to novel alpha-conotoxin-like peptides comprising the following amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:10): Xaa1-Cys-Cys-Ser-Xaa2-Xaa3-Xaa4-Cys-Xaa5-Xaa6-Xaa7-Xaa8-Xaa9-Xaa10-Xaa11-Cys-NH2 in which Xaa1 is Gly or Asp; Xaa3 is Pro, Hyp or Glu; each of Xaa2 to Xaa8 and Xaa11 is independently any amino acid; Xaa9 is Pro, Hyp or Glu; Xaa10 is Asp, Glu or gamma-carboxyGlu; Xaa11 is optionally absent; and the C-terminus is optionally amidated, with the proviso that the peptide is not alpha-conotoxin Ep1 or alpha-conotoxin Im1. The peptides are useful in the treatment or prevention of pain, in recovery from nerve injury, and in the treatment of painful neurological conditions such as stroke.