Maitotoxin
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Maitotoxin
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| Formula | C164H256O68S2Na2 |
| Molecular mass | 3422 amu |
Maitotoxin or MTX is an extremely potent toxin produced by Gambierdiscus toxicus, a dinoflagellate species partially responsible for the phenomenon known as red tide.
Maitotoxin activates Ca2+ permeable, non-selective cation channels, leading to an increase in levels of cytosolic Ca2+ ions. It is thought that maitotoxin leads to the formation of pores on these ion channels. Ultimately, a cell death cascade is activated, resulting in membrane blebbing and eventually cell lysis.
The molecule itself exists as a system of 32 fused rings. It is notable because it is one of the largest, and most complex, non-protein molecules produced by an organism. Its structure was established through analysis using nuclear magnetic resonance at both Harvard and the University of Tokyo.
[edit] References
- Maitotoxin-induced membrane blebbing and cell death in bovine aortic endothelial cellsMark Estacion and William P Schilling. BMC Physiology 2001, 1:2 doi:10.1186/1472-6793-1-2
- Complete structure of maitotoxin Yoshito Kishi. Pure & Appl. Chem. 1998 Vol. 70 No. 2 pp.339-344
- Organic Chemistry Third Edition. Maitland Jones Jr. W.W. Norton & Company. New York. 2005 pp.802-803
- MP Biomedicals Product Information
