Gambierone, a Ladder-Shaped Polyether from the Dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus belizeanus.

A new natural product named gambierone (1) was isolated from the cultured dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus belizeanus. The structure of this compound features an unprecedented polyether skeleton and an unusual right-hand side chain. Its relative configuration was fully determined by interpretation of ROESY experiment and comparison between experimental and theoretical NMR data.

Surface plasmon resonance biosensor method for palytoxin detection based on Na+,K+-ATPase affinity.

Palytoxin (PLTX), produced by dinoflagellates from the genus Ostreopsis was first discovered, isolated, and purified from zoanthids belonging to the genus Palythoa. The detection of this toxin in contaminated shellfish is essential for human health preservation. A broad range of studies indicate that mammalian Na+,K+-ATPase is a high affinity cellular receptor for PLTX.

First direct fluorescence polarization assay for the detection and quantification of spirolides in mussel samples.

In 2009, we achieve the first inhibition FP assay to detect imine cyclic toxins. In the present paper we propose a new FP assay for direct quantify spirolides. This new method has resulted in significant improvement of sensitivity, rapidity and accessibility.

Effect of uncontrolled factors in a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method question its use as a reference method for marine toxins: major causes for concern.

Chromatographic techniques coupled to mass spectrometry is the method of choice to replace the mouse bioassay (MBA) to detect marine toxins. This paper evaluates the influence of different parameters such as toxin solvents, mass spectrometric detection method, mobile-phase-solvent brands and equipment on okadaic acid (OA), dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX-1), and dinophysistoxin-2 (DTX-2) quantification. In addition, the study compares the results obtained when a toxin is quantified against its own calibration curve and with the calibration curve of the other analogues.

A comparative study of the effect of ciguatoxins on voltage-dependent Na+ and K+ channels in cerebellar neurons.

Ciguatera is a global disease caused by the consumption of certain warm-water fish (ciguateric fish) that have accumulated orally effective levels of sodium channel activator toxins (ciguatoxins) through the marine food chain. The effect of ciguatoxin standards and contaminated ciguatoxin samples was evaluated by electrophysiological recordings in cultured cerebellar neurons. The toxins affected both voltage-gated sodium (Nav) and potassium channels (Kv) although with different potencies.

New protocol to obtain spirolides from Alexandrium ostenfeldii cultures with high recovery and purity.

The aim of this work was to develop a method to purify large amounts of spirolide toxins from cultures of Alexandrium ostenfeldii. The dinoflagellates grew in batches under controlled conditions of salinity, light and temperature. Analysis of the cultures demonstrated the existence of neurotoxins associated with paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins and two spirolides, 13-desmethyl spirolide C and 13,19-didesmethyl spirolide C.

Evaluation of various pH and temperature conditions on the stability of azaspiracids and their importance in preparative isolation and toxicological studies.

Azaspiracids (AZAs) are a group of shellfish toxins that were discovered in mussels from Irish waters in 1995. Because of the rare occurrence of poisoning incidents, the toxicity of the compounds is a continued matter of debate. Neither their mechanism of action nor their pharmacokinetic behavior has been elucidated, principally because of the lack of standards and reference tissues.

Azaspiracid substituent at C1 is relevant to in vitro toxicity.

The azaspiracids are a group of marine toxins recently described that currently includes 20 analogues. Not much is known about their mechanism of action, although effects on some cellular functions have been found in vitro. We used the reported effects on cell viability, actin cytoskeleton, and caspase activation to study the structure-activity relationship of AZA-1 and AZA-2 and the role of the carboxylic acid moiety in toxicity.

First toxicity report of tetrodotoxin and 5,6,11-trideoxyTTX in the trumpet shell Charonia lampas lampas in Europe.

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is one of the most potent toxins already isolated, which occurs in a wide variety of animals. In this work, the occurrence of TTX and analogues was examined using mass spectrometry, confocal microscopy, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and mouse bioassay in a trumpet shell (Charonia lampas lampas) and in the fluids of a patient poisoned by consuming this shell. Retention time data in the LC-MS system within the enhanced mass spectrum (EMS) mode indicated the presence of TTX and the analogue 5,6,11-trideoxyTTX; the enhanced product ion (EPI) mode confirmed the existence of both toxins with the formation of characteristic daughter ions from the fragment pattern of each molecule.

Cytotoxic effect of azaspiracid-2 and azaspiracid-2-methyl ester in cultured neurons: involvement of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase.

Human poisoning by azaspiracids (AZAs) has emerged as an increasing problem in Europe in recent years. Azaspiracid-2 (AZA-2) is one of the most abundant azaspiracids in nature. Although AZA-2 was recently involved in several toxic episodes leading to human intoxications, there is no information available about its mechanism of action or its cytotoxic effect in cellular models.

Purification of five azaspiracids from mussel samples contaminated with DSP toxins and azaspiracids.

Human intoxications during toxic episodes in shellfish are a very important concern for public health, as well as for economic interests of producer regions. Although initially each toxin appeared in a determined geographical zone, nowadays many of them are found in multiple places worldwide. In addition, more toxic compounds (new toxins or new analogs of known toxins) are being isolated and identified, which bring about new risks for public health.

Quantification of yessotoxin using the fluorescence polarization technique and study of the adequate extraction procedure.

Yessotoxin (YTX) is a polycyclic ether toxin produced by phytoplanktonic microalgae from the group of dinoflagellates. It has been shown that YTX increases the 3',5'-cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) activity and that there is a binding between these proteins and the toxin. Fluorescence polarization (FP) is a spectroscopic technique that can be used to study the interactions between molecules.