Cone snails may hold the key to faster-acting insulin

Researchers have found that the venom from a species of marine cone snails could provide a faster-acting insulin than that produced by humans.

The marine cone snail uses its venom to immobilize its prey, sending them into hyperglycemic shock. While studying these snails, researchers from both the U.S. and Australia found the cone snail insulin had the potential for human use.

"We found that cone snail venom insulins work more quickly than human insulins by avoiding the structural changes that human insulins undergo in order to function—they are essentially primed and ready to bind to their receptors," said Associate Professor Mike Lawrence of Melbourne's Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. "The structure of human insulins contain an extra 'hinge' component that has to open before any 'molecular handshake' or connection between insulin and receptor can take place. By studying the 3D structure of this snail venom insulin, we've found how to dispense with this 'hinge' entirely, which may accelerate the cell signaling process and thus the speed with which the insulin takes effect."

Studying the snails venom led to the discovery of the 3D structure of the venom insulin, revealing the Con-Ins G1 protein. This protein is able to bind to human insulin receptors and can be translated into a human therapeutic treatment.

"Our Flinders University colleagues have shown that the cone snail insulin can 'switch on' human insulin cell signaling pathways, meaning the cone snail insulin is able to successfully bind to human receptors," said Helena Safavi-Hemami, MD, from the University of Utah and a member of the research team. "The next step in our research, which is already underway, is to apply these findings to the design of new and better treatments for diabetes, giving patients access to faster-acting insulins."