Saxitoxin

BeschreibungFirst recognized in 1957 by Shantz et al. in the butter clam Saxidomus giganteus, saxitoxin is a naturally occurring toxin that is synthesized by various marine dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria. It is used in neurochemical and molecular biology research, but regulatory concerns have focused on its weaponization and potent toxicological effects on animals and humans. Saxitoxin causes paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in humans and other animals; whales having ingested organisms contaminated with the toxin have died just hours after exposure. In humans, PSP can occur as a result of consuming shellfish or other seafood in which saxitoxin has accumulated. While effects have been documented worldwide, the sources of contaminated seafood have been identified as primarily the west and east coasts of the United States. To date, more than 30 different saxitoxin analogs have been identified. These include pure saxitoxin (STX), neosaxitoxin (neoSTX), the gonyautoxins (GTX), and decarbamoylsaxitoxin (dc-STX); of these, STX, 6NeoSTX, GTX1, and dc-STX seem to be the most toxic. The term saxitoxin typically refers to this collection of compounds produced naturally by cyanobacteria. Saxitoxin is far more potent than the classic puffer fish toxin tetrodotoxin, and is one of only two naturally occurring Schedule 1 chemical warfare agents (the other is ricin). In 1970, President Nixon ordered stocks of the toxin destroyed in compliance with U.N. agreements on biological weapons; however, the Central Intelligence Agency revealed in 1975 that there was a remaining supply, which was distributed to research facilities by the National Institutes of Health in order to study neurological diseases.

VerwendenSaxitoxin is an alkaloid of nonplant origin.It is the neurotoxic constituent of dinoflagel lates (Gonyaulax catenella and G. excavata)the so-called “red tide” found along the U.S.coast. Shellfish, clams, and scallops consumethis and become extremely poisonous forhuman consumption.