Cristoval Urcino

Mr. Cristoval Urcino

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

6Years (2021-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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25 March 2021 in Journal of Natural Products
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
GBGabriel D. Bosse
Gabriel D. Bosse
CUCristoval Urcino
Cristoval Urcino
MWMaren Watkins
Maren Watkins
PSPaula Flórez Salcedo
Paula Flórez Salcedo
SKSabrina Kozel
Sabrina Kozel
JGJoanna Gajewiak
Joanna Gajewiak

29 February 2024 in Marine Drugs
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
JNJorge Neves
Jorge Neves
CUCristoval Urcino
Cristoval Urcino
KCKevin Chase
Kevin Chase
CDCheryl Dowell
Cheryl Dowell
AHArik J. Hone
Arik J. Hone
JGJoanna Gajewiak
Joanna Gajewiak
The venom of cone snails has been proven to be a rich source of bioactive peptides that target a variety of ion channels and receptors. α-Conotoxins (αCtx) interact with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and are powerful tools for investigating the structure and function of the various nAChR subtypes. By studying how conotoxins interact with nAChRs, we can improve our understanding of these receptors, leading to new insights into neurological diseases associated with nAChRs. Here, we describe the discovery and characterization of a novel conotoxin from Conus ateralbus, αCtx-AtIA, which has an amino acid sequence homologous to the well-described αCtx-PeIA, but with a different selectivity profile towards nAChRs. We tested the synthetic αCtx-AtIA using the calcium imaging-based Constellation Pharmacology assay on mouse DRG neurons and found that αCtx-AtIA significantly inhibited ACh-induced calcium influx in the presence of an α7 positive allosteric modulator, PNU-120596 (PNU). However, αCtx-AtIA did not display any activity in the absence of PNU. These findings were further validated using two-electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology performed on oocytes overexpressing mouse α3β4, α6/α3β4 and α7 nAChRs subtypes. We observed that αCtx-AtIA displayed no or low potency in blocking α3β4 and α6/α3β4 receptors, respectively, but improved potency and selectivity to block α7 nAChRs when compared with αCtx-PeIA. Through the synthesis of two additional analogs of αCtx-AtIA and subsequent characterization using Constellation Pharmacology, we were able to identify residue Trp18 as a major contributor to the activity of the peptide.