Structural elucidation of naturally occurring toxins associated with the cyanobacteria, Trichodesmium theibautii
Tracey B. Schock 1,3, Steve Morton1, 2, Peter D.R. Moeller 1,3
1 Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
2 Marine Biotoxins, National Ocean Service , Charleston, SC
3 Toxin Chemistry, National Ocean Service, Charleston, SC
Cyanobacteria have long been linked to deleterious effects to aquatic flora and fauna, wild and domestic animals, as well as humans. Trichodesmium theibautii is a toxin producing non-heterocystous cyanobacterium ubiquitous in tropical, subtropical and temperate seas. It is known for its ability to fix nitrogen and for its massive blooms, making it a major component of oceanic primary production and nitrogen cycling. The toxin(s) produced by this cyanophyte has been observed as a potential cause of serious poisonings to humans. To date, a T. theibautii toxin has not been isolated or structurally characterized. Here, we report the extraction of a lipophilic and water-soluble toxin from T. theibautii cell mass. We have demonstrated cytotoxic activity of T. theibautii extracts using GH4C1 rat pituitary cells. We have obtained structurally data using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS). Our final structural analyses are currently underway.