Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to novel mu-conotoxin peptides, biologically active fragments thereof, combinations thereof and/or variants thereof. An embodiment of the invention also relates to their use in pharmaceutical composition for the treatment or prevention of pain, and their use in the preparation of an anesthetic.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for purifying a polypeptide, a capture tag useful for purifying a polypeptide and a periodate-cleavable amino acid derivative useful for purifying a polypeptide. The polypeptide to be purified comprises a vicinal-amino-thiol, vicinal-amino-hydoxyl, vicinal-diol or vicinal-diamino group. The purification process comprises attaching the polypeptide to a purification matrix by contacting the polypeptide with a purification matrix comprising aldehyde or ketone groups under conditions which favor formation of a heterocyclic ring system, washing the purification matrix, and releasing the polypeptide from the purification matrix.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for purifying a polypeptide, a capture tag useful for purifying a polypeptide and a periodate-cleavable amino acid derivative useful for purifying a polypeptide.