Abstract
Saxitoxin is an alkaloid neurotoxin originally isolated from the clam Saxidomus giganteus in 1957. This group of neurotoxins is produced by several species of freshwater cyanobacteria and marine dinoflagellates. The saxitoxin biosynthesis pathway was described for the first time in the 1980s and, since then, it was studied in more than seven cyanobacterial genera, comprising 26 genes that form a cluster ranging from 25.7 kb to 35 kb in sequence length. Due to the complexity of the genomic landscape, saxitoxin biosynthesis in dinoflagellates remains unknown. In order to reveal and understand the dynamics of the activity in such impressive unicellular organisms with a complex genome, a strategy that can carefully engage them in a systems view is necessary. Advances in omics technology (the collective tools of biological sciences) facilitated high-throughput studies of the genome, transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome of dinoflagellates. The omics approach was utilized to address saxitoxin-producing dinoflagellates in response to environmental stresses to improve understanding of dinoflagellates gene–environment interactions. Therefore, in this review, the progress in understanding dinoflagellate saxitoxin biosynthesis using an omics approach is emphasized. Further potential applications of metabolomics and genomics to unravel novel insights into saxitoxin biosynthesis in dinoflagellates are also reviewed.
Highlights
Saxitoxin (STX) is a type of paralytic shellfish toxin (PST), and it is the most potent naturally occurring neurotoxic alkaloid known [1]
2000 cases worldwide with an the average human rate ofseafood, 15% [3,6].e.g., Most cases ofwhich humanaccumulate saxitoxin toxicosis are annually associated with ingestion ofmortality contaminated bivalves saxitoxins are associated with the ingestion of contaminated e.g., bivalves which accumulate saxitoxins produced by marine dinoflagellates
In the proposed saxitoxin biosynthesis pathway (Figure 2), the biosynthesis begins by polyketide synthase (PKS)-like enzymes encoded by the gene sxtA, which contains four catalytic domains of S-adenosyl methionine (SAM)-dependent methyltransferase, GCN-5 related N-acetyltransferase, acyl carrier protein, and class II amidinotransferase
Summary
Saxitoxin (STX) is a type of paralytic shellfish toxin (PST), and it is the most potent naturally occurring neurotoxic alkaloid known [1]. Saxitoxin is produced by freshwater cyanobacteria and marine dinoflagellates [3]. 2000 cases worldwide with an the average human rate ofseafood, 15% [3,6].e.g., Most cases ofwhich humanaccumulate saxitoxin toxicosis are annually associated with ingestion ofmortality contaminated bivalves saxitoxins are associated with the ingestion of contaminated e.g., bivalves which accumulate saxitoxins produced by marine dinoflagellates. Aside fromseafood, general safety concerns, the financial impact of produced by marine dinoflagellates. Aside from general safety financial impact of saxitoxin outbreaks is substantial. A. minutum, Alexandrium catenatum, P. bahamense ostenfeldii, A. tamarense, A. catenella, A. fundyense, A. ostenfeldii, A. G. catenatum tamarense, A. catenella, A. are associated with the ingestion of contaminated seafood, e.g., bivalves which accumulate saxitoxins produced by marine dinoflagellates. Aside from general safety concerns, the financial impact of saxitoxin outbreaks is substantial.
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