ミクロシスチン-LW 5-8ΜG/ML

The site of action of microcystins is the hepatocyte, the commonest cell type in the liver. They act by disrupting the cytoskeleton, the adaptable protein framework that constantly shapes and reshapes the cell as it responds to the environment. The cells die and this destroys the finer blood vessels of the liver leading to massive hepatic bleeding. The molecular target are a group of enzymes called protein phosphatases that play a role in regulating protein interactions and activities. Very well-defined types of protein phosphatase (type 1 and type 2A) are inhibited very specifically by very low concentrations of microcystins. This enzyme removes phosphate from a protein, a common step in many biochemical pathways. This inhibition, with subsequent build up of phosphorylated proteins, is believed to be a mechanism by which microcystins destroy livers. Microcystins also activate the enzyme phosphorylase b, which plays a very important role in the affairs of the hepatocyte. The combination of inhibition and activation is rapidly lethal to the cell. The specificity of some of these toxins makes them valuable research tools.

Microcystins are extremely stable and resist common chemical breakdown such as hydrolysis or oxidation under conditions found in most natural water bodies. These toxins can break down slowly at high temperature (40 °C or 104 o F ) at either very low (<1) or high (>9) pH. The half-life, the time it takes for one-half of the toxin to degrade, at pH 1 and 40 oC is 3 weeks; at typical ambient conditions half-life is 10 weeks.