Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for increasing the binding reversibility of a ?-conotoxin to a N-type calcium channel, which comprises preparing a ?-conotoxin having a Ile and/or Ala residue at a position of amino acid (11 and/or 12), respectively in the second loop between cysteine residues (2 and 3) of the ?-conotoxin represented by the formula I, such that the prepared ?-conotoxin has the increased binding reversibility to N-type calcium channel. In addition, the present invention relates to a novel ?-conotoxin and a pharmaceutical composition having plausible properties in view of blocking activity to and specificity to N-type calcium channel, and dramatically improved binding reversibility to N-type calcium channel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a recombinant, spider toxin peptide and analgesic compositions containing said peptide. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method in which the gene for GsMTx4 is subcloned into a vector, so that it is linked to a secretion signal sequence of the alpha factor and under the control of methanol-inducible alcohol oxidase (AOX) promoter to construct a recombinant yeast expression plasmid. Yeast cells are transformed with this plasmid to produce the GsMTx4 peptide and analgesic compositions containing said peptide. The recombinant yeast expression system of the present invention affords a more stable method for producing GsMTx4 than its natural route. Thus the GsMTx4 peptide and its derivatives produced by the method of this invention can be used in the cure of related diseases such as heart failure as the peptide specifically inhibits mechanosensitive ion channels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel use of a transgenic mouse deficient in ?1G T-type calcium channel as an animal model for the study of neuropathic diseases, more precisely, a novel use of a transgenic mouse having resistance against neuripathic pain as an animal model for the development of a therapeutic agent and a treatment method for human neuropathic diseases. The transgenic mouse deficient in ?1G T-type calcium channel having resistance against neuropathic pain, provided by the present invention, can be effectively used for the development of a therapeutic agent and a treatment method for human neuropathic diseases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for increasing the binding reversibility of a ?-conotoxin to a N-type calcium channel, which comprises preparing a ?-conotoxin having a Ile and/or Ala residue at a position of amino acid (11 and/or 12), respectively in the second loop between cysteine residues (2 and 3) of the ?-conotoxin represented by the formula I, such that the prepared ?-conotoxin has the increased binding reversibility to N-type calcium channel. In addition, the present invention relates to a novel ?-conotoxin and a pharmaceutical composition having plausible properties in view of blocking activity to and specificity to N-type calcium channel, and dramatically improved binding reversibility to N-type calcium channel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a recombinant, spider toxin peptide and analgesic compositions containing said peptide. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method in which the gene for GsMTx4 is subcloned into a vector, so that it is linked to a secretion signal sequence of the alpha factor and under the control of methanol-inducible alcohol oxidase (AOX) promoter to construct a recombinant yeast expression plasmid. Yeast cells are transformed with this plasmid to produce the GsMTx4 peptide and analgesic compositions containing said peptide. The recombinant yeast expression system of the present invention affords a more stable method for producing GsMTx4 than its natural route. Thus the GsMTx4 peptide and its derivatives produced by the method of this invention can be used in the cure of related diseases such as heart failure as the peptide specifically inhibits mechanosensitive ion channels.

Abstract: An apparatus and method capable of measuring a weight load of an inflamed leg of a lab animal or a human being objectively and precisely while the lab animal or the human being is walking freely in a non-binding state. A pathway sized depending on a size and a stride of the lab animal or the human being is provided in a weight load measuring apparatus, and a weight sensor is attached to a bottom of the pathway. Thus, artificial operations to be applied to the lab animal or human being walking the pathway can be minimized such that the weight load exerted in the inflamed leg can be measured objectively and precisely with time periods.

Abstract: An apparatus and method capable of measuring a weight load of an inflamed leg of a lab animal or a human being objectively and precisely while the lab animal or the human being is walking freely in a non-binding state. A pathway sized depending on a size and a stride of the lab animal or the human being is provided in a weight load measuring apparatus, and a weight sensor is attached to a bottom of the pathway. Thus, artificial operations to be applied to the lab animal or human being walking the pathway can be minimized such that the weight load exerted in the inflamed leg can be measured objectively and precisely with time periods.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method capable of measuring a weight load of an inflamed foot of a lab animal objectively and precisely while the lab animal is walking freely in a non-binding state is provided. A pathway sized depending on a size and a stride of the lab animal is provided in a weight load measuring apparatus, and a weight sensor is attached to a bottom of the pathway. Thus, artificial operations to be applied to the lab animal walking the pathway can be minimized such that the weight load exerted in the inflamed foot can be measured objectively and precisely with time periods.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method capable of measuring a weight load of an inflamed foot of a lab animal objectively and precisely while the lab animal is walking freely in a non-binding state is provided. A pathway sized depending on a size and a stride of the lab animal is provided in a weight load measuring apparatus, and a weight sensor is attached to a bottom of the pathway. Thus, artificial operations to be applied to the lab animal walking the pathway can be minimized such that the weight load exerted in the inflamed foot can be measured objectively and precisely with time periods.