AI Article Synopsis
- Palytoxin and its analogues, produced by marine dinoflagellates, Zoanthids, and Cyanobacteria, are potent marine toxins characterized by a complex chemical structure that can affect both lipophilic and hydrophilic environments.
- With an extremely low lethal dose (LD50 of 150 ng/kg in mice), it acts mainly by binding to Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase, turning it into a channel that allows harmful ion flow, impacting cell functionality.
- Palytoxin can cause severe neurotoxic effects through various routes of exposure, and incidents of poisoning have been linked to contaminated seafood, inhalation of aerosolized seawater, and contact during aquarium maintenance, raising global health concerns.
Article Abstract
This review briefly describes the origin, chemistry, molecular mechanism of action, pharmacology, toxicology, and ecotoxicology of palytoxin and its analogues. Palytoxin and its analogues are produced by marine dinoflagellates. Palytoxin is also produced by Zoanthids (i.e. Palythoa), and Cyanobacteria (Trichodesmium). Palytoxin is a very large, non-proteinaceous molecule with a complex chemical structure having both lipophilic and hydrophilic moieties. Palytoxin is one of the most potent marine toxins with an LD50 of 150 ng/kg body weight in mice exposed intravenously. Pharmacological and electrophysiological studies have demonstrated that palytoxin acts as a hemolysin and alters the function of excitable cells through multiple mechanisms of action. Palytoxin selectively binds to Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase with a Kd of 20 pM and transforms the pump into a channel permeable to monovalent cations with a single-channel conductance of 10 pS. This mechanism of action could have multiple effects on cells. Evaluation of palytoxin toxicity using various animal models revealed that palytoxin is an extremely potent neurotoxin following an intravenous, intraperitoneal, intramuscular, subcutaneous or intratracheal route of exposure. Palytoxin also causes non-lethal, yet serious toxic effects following dermal or ocular exposure. Most incidents of palytoxin poisoning have manifested after oral intake of contaminated seafood. Poisonings in humans have also been noted after inhalation, cutaneous/systemic exposures with direct contact of aerosolized seawater during Ostreopsis blooms and/or through maintaining aquaria containing Cnidarian zoanthids. Palytoxin has a strong potential for toxicity in humans and animals, and currently this toxin is of great concern worldwide.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11596-015-1506-3 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Coral Crisis: Palytoxin-Induced Keratoconjunctivitis in Marine Experts.
Cureus
October 2024
Emergency Medicine, HCA Florida/University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine Graduate Medical Education Consortium at Brandon Hospital, Brandon, USA.
Palytoxin (PTX or PLTX), a potent and rare marine toxin derived from certain coral species, poses significant risks to human health upon exposure, including the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome. We present a case report detailing the experiences of two expert marine biologists who inadvertently came into contact with palytoxin while handling marine organisms in a controlled environment. Shortly after exposure, both biologists developed severe keratoconjunctivitis, characterized by acute inflammation of the conjunctiva and cornea.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHistory and Toxinology of Palytoxins.
Toxins (Basel)
September 2024
Center for Airborne Infection & Transmission Science, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
Article Synopsis
- * Research on palytoxins involves multiple scientific fields such as chemistry, biology, and environmental science, aimed at understanding their health risks.
- * The review covers the history of palytoxin discovery, their chemical structure, mechanisms of action, and summarizes various toxicity studies to enhance understanding of these toxins.
Palytoxin evokes reversible spreading depolarization in the locust CNS.
J Neurophysiol
November 2024
Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Spreading depolarization (SD) describes the near-complete depolarization of central nervous system (CNS) neural cells as a consequence of chemical, electrical, or metabolic perturbations. It is well established as the central mechanism underlying insect coma and various mammalian neurological dysfunctions. Despite significant progress in our understanding, the question remains: which cation channel, if any, generates SD in the CNS? Previously, we speculated that the sodium-potassium ATPase (NKA) might function as a large-conductance ion channel to initiate SD in insects, potentially mediated by a palytoxin (PLTX)-like endogenous activator.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIsolation of ovatoxin-a from Ostreopsis cf. ovata cultures. A key step for hazard characterization and risk management of ovatoxins.
J Chromatogr A
November 2024
UNINA-DF, University of Naples Federico II, School of Medicine and Surgery, Department of Pharmacy, Naples, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy.
Article Synopsis
- - Ostreopsis cf. ovata, a type of marine dinoflagellate, is spreading globally and causing harmful algal blooms (HABs) due to the production of toxic compounds known as ovatoxins, particularly OVTX-a.
- - The toxicity of these compounds remains unclear because there is a lack of high-purity reference materials for proper characterization and study.
- - Researchers have developed a refined isolation procedure for OVTX-a, leading to a notable increase in both yield and purity of the extracted toxin, which is essential for further research and understanding of its toxicity.
Azooxanthellate Palythoa (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) Genomes Reveal Toxin-related Gene Clusters and Loss of Neuronal Genes in Hexacorals.
Genome Biol Evol
September 2024
Marine Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan.
Article Synopsis
- * Researchers sequenced the genomes of two zoantharians, Palythoa mizigama and Palythoa umbrosa, revealing their total genome sizes and identifying a significant number of protein-coding genes with strong completeness.
- * The study found that certain gene families, particularly those related to toxins and other functions, were conserved and expanded in Palythoa species, while some gene losses seemed to relate to neuronal functions, suggesting adaptations to their dark coral reef cave environment.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!