| Date | August 20, 2024 |
| Source | University of Utah Health |
| Summary | Researchers are discovering insights into treating diabetes and hormone disorders from an unlikely source: a toxin from one of the world’s most venomous creatures. |
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How a lethal toxin from a sea snail could be a source of better medicines
Scientists are uncovering potential treatments for diabetes and hormone disorders from an unexpected source: a toxin found in one of the planet’s most venomous creatures that is a lethal toxin from a sea snail could be a source of better medicines.
A global team of researchers, led by scientists from the University of Utah, has discovered a substance in the venom of the geography cone snail that mimics somatostatin, a human hormone that regulates blood sugar and other hormones. This hormone-like toxin, which the snail uses to hunt prey, has long-lasting and specific effects that could inspire the development of improved drugs for diabetes and hormone-related disorders. Their findings were published in Nature Communications on August 20, 2024.
A Path to Better Medicines
The toxin, named consomatin, acts similarly to somatostatin by controlling blood sugar and hormone levels. However, consomatin is more stable and precise, making it a promising candidate for drug development. By studying how consomatin interacts with somatostatin’s targets in human cells, scientists found that while somatostatin affects multiple proteins, consomatin only impacts one. This specificity allows it to regulate blood sugar and hormone levels without affecting other critical molecules.
Not only is consomatin more targeted than the best synthetic drugs currently available, but it also remains active in the body longer due to the presence of a unique amino acid that makes it resistant to breakdown. This stability is valuable for designing drugs with long-lasting therapeutic effects.
Learning from Deadly Venoms
Dr. Helena Safavi, a biochemistry professor at the University of Utah and senior author of the study, explains that although it may seem counterintuitive, studying venoms can lead to important medical breakthroughs. Venomous creatures, through evolution, have developed toxins that precisely target and disrupt specific molecules in their prey’s bodies—precision that can be harnessed for medical treatments. “Venom components are fine-tuned to hit specific targets,” Safavi notes. “When we isolate one component and study how it affects physiology, that pathway is often crucial for treating diseases.”
Consomatin, which shares an evolutionary background with somatostatin, has been weaponized by the cone snail to prevent its prey’s blood sugar from rising. This toxin works in tandem with another venom component similar to insulin, which rapidly reduces blood sugar, causing the prey to become unresponsive. Consomatin then keeps the blood sugar levels low.
According to Ho Yan Yeung, a postdoctoral researcher and the study’s first author, this dual-action venom hints that other undiscovered toxins in the venom could regulate blood sugar. These toxins might pave the way for better treatments for diabetes.
While it may seem surprising that a snail can outperform human drug design, Safavi points out that cone snails have had millions of years to perfect their venom, whereas humans have only been working on drug development for a few centuries. “Cone snails have had the time to do it right,” she says.