Biosynthesis of marine toxins. (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chekan, Jonathan R.; Fallon, Timothy R.; Moore, Bradley S.
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in chemical biology. Volume 59(2020)
• Page Start: 119
• Page End: 129
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: Biosynthesis -- Brevetoxin -- Domoic acid -- Harmful algal bloom -- Marine toxin -- Saxitoxin -- Tetrodotoxin; Bioorganic chemistry -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Clinical biochemistry -- Periodicals; Biochemistry -- Periodicals; Chimie bio-organique -- Périodiques; Biologie -- Périodiques; 572.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2020.06.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1367-5931

Abstract

Abstract: Throughout history, humans have encountered natural toxic chemicals from the ocean environment, often through contaminated seafood. Although marine toxins can be harmful to human health and devastate local environments when they are produced during algal bloom events, they are also important biochemical research reagents and drug leads in medicine. In spite of their long history, the biosynthetic origin of many well-known marine toxins has remained elusive. New biosynthetic insights have shed light on the chemical transformations that create the complex structures of several iconic oceanic toxins. To that end, this review highlights advances made in the biosynthetic understanding of five important environmental toxins of marine origin: domoic acid, kainic acid, saxitoxin, tetrodotoxin, and polyether polyketides such as brevetoxin.