Domoic acid

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Domoic acid

General
Systematic name	?
Other names	?
Molecular formula	C₁₅H₂₁NO₆
SMILES	?
Molar mass	311.3 g/mol
Appearance	White powder
CAS number	[14277-97-5]
Properties
Density and phase	? g/cm³, ?
Solubility in water	? g/100 ml (?°C)
Melting point	?°C (? K)
Boiling point	?°C (? K)
Acidity (pK_a)	?
Basicity (pK_b)	?
Chiral rotation [α]_D	?°
Hazards
MSDS	External MSDS
Main hazards	Harmful
NFPA 704
Flash point	?°C
R/S statement	R: R20{R21}}R22 S: S36S37
RTECS number	?
Supplementary data page
Structure and properties	n, ε_r, etc.
Thermodynamic data	Phase behaviour Solid, liquid, gas
Spectral data	UV, IR, NMR, MS
Related compounds
Related compounds	?
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references

Domoic acid, which causes amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), is an amino acid phycotoxin (algal toxin) found associated with certain algal blooms [3].

1 Occurrence
2 Chemistry
3 Toxicology
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Occurrence

In 1958, domoic acid was originally isolated from the red alga called "doumoi" or "hanayanagi" (Chondria armata[4]) in Japan. "Doumoi" is used as an anthelmintic in Tokunoshima, Kagoshima. Domoic acid is also produced by diatoms of the genus Pseudo-nitzschia.^[1] ^[2] Domoic acid is commercially available.

[edit] Chemistry

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[edit] Toxicology

The chemical can bioaccumulate in marine organisms that feed on the phytoplankton, such as shellfish, anchovies, and sardines. In mammals, including humans, domoic acid acts as a neurotoxin, causing short-term memory loss, brain damage, and death in severe cases. Red tides are associated with the phenomenon of ASP. Considerable recent research has been carried out by the Marine Mammal Center and other scientific centers on the association of red tides to domoic acid and to resulting neurological damage in marine mammals of the Pacific Ocean.

In the brain, domoic acid especially damages the hippocampus and amygdaloid nucleus. It damages the neurons by activating AMPA and kainate receptors, causing an influx of calcium. Although calcium flowing into cells is a normal event, the uncontrolled increase of calcium causes the cell to degenerate.