Biosynthetic origins and assignments of carbon 13 NMR peaks of brevetoxin B

Synthesis-based approach toward direct sandwich immunoassay for ciguatoxin CTX3C

Ciguatoxins are the major causative toxins of ciguatera seafood poisoning. Limited availability of ciguatoxins has hampered the development of a reliable and specific immunoassay for detecting these toxins in contaminated fish. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific against both ends of ciguatoxin CTX3C were prepared by immunization of mice with protein conjugates of rationally designed synthetic haptens, 3 and 4, in place of the natural toxin. Haptenic groups that possess a surface area larger than 400 A(2) were required to produce mAbs that can bind strongly to CTX3C itself. A direct sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using these mAbs was established to detect CTX3C at the ppb level with no cross-reactivity against other related marine toxins, including brevetoxin A, brevetoxin B, okadaic acid, or maitotoxin.

Microalgal metabolites

The extraordinary chemical diversity seen in the cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) is especially pronounced in the ubiquitous tropical marine species, Lyngbya majuscula. The gene clusters responsible for the production of some of the secondary metabolites have recently been elucidated. The dinoflagellates, which are lower eukaryotic algae, also demonstrate chemical diversity and produce unique polycyclic ethers of polyketide origin. A new mechanism for the formation of the truncated polyketide backbones has recently been proposed. The toxicogenicity of dinoflagellates of the genus Pfiesteria has been the focus of controversy--are they 'killer organisms', as alleged? A recent investigation of Pfiesteria genes seems to rule out the presence of polyketide synthase, which is the gene responsible for the production of most dinoflagellate toxins.

Polyketides from dinoflagellates: origins, pharmacology and biosynthesis

Dinoflagellates, unicellular marine protists, produce some of the largest and most complex polyketides identified to date. The biological activities of these compounds are quite diverse. Compounds having potential therapeutic value as anti-cancer agents as well as deadly neurotoxins, whose production has resulted in severe public health hazards and economic hardships, are represented in this group of secondary metabolites. Stable isotope feeding experiments have firmly established the polyketide origins of representative compounds from each of the three structural classes, the polyether ladders, the macrocycles and the linear polyethers. Yet some unusual labeling patterns have been observed in each class. Pendant methyl groups are most often derived from C-2 of acetate and deletions of C-1 of acetate are common. Studies on the biosynthesis of dinoflagellate derived polyketides at the genomic level have not been reported, in part due to the peculiarities of the dinoflagellate nucleus and the lack of a dinoflagellate transformation system. Nevertheless, a fundamental understanding of the genetics of polyketide biosynthesis by dinoflagellates could be the catalyst for developing several fruitful avenues of research. Dinoflagellate derived polyketides are reviewed with special emphasis on pharmacology and biosynthesis.

Microalgal metabolites: a new perspective

Occurrence of secondary metabolites in microalgae (protoctista) is discussed with respect to the phylogenic or taxonomic relationships of organisms. Biosynthetic mechanisms of certain metabolites such as paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins and polyether toxins are also discussed, and genetic aspects of the secondary metabolite production as well.

Binding of brevetoxins and ciguatoxin to the voltage-sensitive sodium channel and conformational analysis of brevetoxin B

The marine toxins known generically as brevetoxins, as well as their structural relative ciguatoxin, are known as polyether ladder toxins, and bind uniquely to site 5 of the voltage-sensitive sodium channel. Rat brain synaptosome binding data show similarities in binding affinity for brevetoxins having the same structural (ladder) backbone, but different affinities between brevetoxins having different backbones. Ciguatoxin has a different backbone from the brevetoxins, but binds even more strongly to the same site. Could the flexibility of the backbone be related to their relative toxicities? As part of an effort to identify the common pharmacophore for the toxins, Monte Carlo methods were used to generate conformational models of the polyether ladder toxin brevetoxin B (PbTx-2) which shows significant flexibility at the juncture of the two 7-membered rings.