{"product_id":"alpha-conotoxin-pia-bhp21300195","title":"α-Conotoxin PIA","description":"\u003ch2\u003eOverview\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eα-Conotoxin PIA\u003c\/strong\u003e is a research-grade protein\/peptide reagent used in research settings. It is commonly applied as a tool reagent related to \u003cstrong\u003eα6 nAChR\u003c\/strong\u003e biology and\/or assay development. It is supplied in Lyophilized format to support flexible downstream use in RUO workflows. Researchers commonly pair it with applications such as Electrophysiology.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eKey elements and design rationale\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMolecular identity:\u003c\/strong\u003e CAS: 669050-68-4, MW: 1981 Da, Formula: C79H125N27O25S4.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSource \/ origin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Conus purpurascens (Purple cone).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eQuality attributes:\u003c\/strong\u003e Purity: ≥98% (HPLC); Bioassay tested: Yes; Sterile \/ endotoxin-free: No.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003ch3\u003eModifications\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisulfide bonds between: Cys4-Cys10 and Cys5-Cys18 Cys18 - C-terminal amidation\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhen used as a biochemical or pharmacological tool, results are best interpreted relative to the experimental system (species, expression level, and assay readout) and with appropriate negative and competition-style controls where relevant. This product is intended for research use only.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBiological background\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eα-Conotoxin PIA is a peptide toxin originally isolated from Conus purpurascens and belongs to the A superfamily of conotoxins. It is a selective antagonist for heteromeric α6 subunit -containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR). α-Conotoxin PIA binds on the extracellular portion of the nAChR and distinguishes α6 from α3 subunits due to its lower affinity for α3.The alpha-conotoxin PIA has an \"omega-shaped\" overall topology, containing spacing of Cys residues, disulfide connectivity, and the SNPV (serine, asparagine, proline, valine) sequence in the first peptide loop. The second loop demonstrates a kink in Pro15 that provides a distinct steric and electrostatic environment1-3.Evidence has shown that α-conotoxin PIA has the ability to potently block nicotine-stimulated dopamine release in rat striatal synaptosomes with low nanomolar potency1. Indeed, the IC50 value for α-conotoxin PIA of human chimeric α6\/α3\/β2\/β3 nAChRs is 1.7 nM1.Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors containing α6 subunits in the CNS are involved in a variety of physiological functions, and considered to play an important role in cognitive function, motor activity, pain perception, analgesia and the reinforcing properties of nicotine.They are implicated in the pathophysiology and treatment of diseases like chronic Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's1.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eResearch relevance and current trends\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eUsing high-specificity ligands, toxins, and engineered peptides to dissect closely related receptor\/channel subtypes and signaling microdomains.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePairing labeled (e.g., fluorescent) proteins\/peptides with advanced imaging to map surface expression, trafficking, and nanoscale organization.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncreasing emphasis on reproducibility through standardized characterization (identity, purity, and lot QC) and transparent reporting of reagent attributes.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCommon research applications\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eElectrophysiology: commonly used to compare signal, binding, or functional readouts across conditions without implying a specific protocol.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003eAcross these use cases, changes in signal or functional readout are generally interpreted as evidence of differences in target abundance, accessibility, or engagement, but alternative explanations (matrix effects, off-target interactions, or assay artifacts) should be considered.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNotes for experimental interpretation\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eAssay context matters: binding assays, functional modulation, and detection workflows can yield different readouts even for the same target system.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTarget complexity: closely related family members, splice variants, and post-translational modifications can influence apparent specificity and potency.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMatrix and sample effects: buffer composition, detergents, and biological matrices may alter stability or apparent activity; interpret with appropriate controls.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eControl concepts: include negative controls and orthogonal validation (e.g., genetic perturbation or alternative reagents) to support robust interpretation.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003c!-- Sources (internal): - UniProt Knowledgebase (UniProtKB) — UniProt Consortium — https:\/\/www.uniprot.org\/ - NCBI Gene — National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) — https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/gene\/ - NCBI Protein — National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) — https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/protein\/ - PubChem — NIH\/NLM\/NCBI — https:\/\/pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/ - IUPHAR\/BPS Guide to Pharmacology — IUPHAR\/BPS — https:\/\/www.guidetopharmacology.org\/ - RCSB Protein Data Bank (PDB) — RCSB PDB — https:\/\/www.rcsb.org\/ - NCBI Bookshelf — NIH\/NLM — https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/ --\u003e","brand":"Alomone Labs","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53073017373037,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0949\/7424\/7277\/files\/STC-870_gr_402.gif?v=1772699888","url":"https:\/\/www.ebiohippo.com\/products\/alpha-conotoxin-pia-bhp21300195","provider":"BioHippo","version":"1.0","type":"link"}