saxitoxin

Introduction

Neurotoxin produced by dinoflagellates Gonyaulax catenella or G. tamarensis, consumption of which causes various filter feeding shellfish to become poisonous.

Contains guanidinium moiety believed to block opening of voltage sensitive sodium channel.

Heat & acid stable, not destroyed by cooking or freezing.

More general terms

• toxin (hazardous material, poison)
• heterocyclic compound, 3 rings

Database

• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=37165
• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=37172
• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=5321148