Citation

Llewellyn LE. Nat Prod Rep 2006; 23(2): 200-222.

Affiliation

Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville MC, Qld. L.Llewellyn@aims.gov.au

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Royal Society of Chemistry)

DOI

10.1039/b501296c

PMID

16572228

Abstract

Saxitoxin (STX) was discovered early last century and can contaminate seafood and drinking water, and over time has become an invaluable research tool and an internationally regulated chemical weapon. Among natural products, toxins obtain a unique reputation from their high affinity and selectivity for their target pharmacological receptor, which for STX has long been considered to only be the voltage gated sodium channel. In recent times however, STX has been discovered to also bind to calcium and potassium channels, neuronal nitric oxide synthase, STX metabolizing enzymes and two circulatory fluid proteins, namely a transferrin-like family of proteins and a unique protein found in the blood of pufferfish.

Language: en