Abstract
The marine environment is known to be occupied by microorganisms. The potential toxicity of some of these marine microorganisms, that are capable of producing unknown biotoxins, has always been underestimated. Indeed, these biotoxins may be a threat to human health through the consumption of contaminated seafood and fish. For more than ten years, recurrent but atypical toxicity has been detected in mussels from Bizerte lagoon (North of Tunisia) during routine tests. In this study, we have isolated and characterized a new proteinaceous marine biotoxin, named Mussel Toxic Peptide (MTP). Using HPLC, electrophoresis and LC/MS studies, we showed that MTP has a protein characteristic UV-spectrum, can be visualized by protein specific reagents such as Coomassie, and has a molecular mass of 6.4 kDa. Patch-clamp experiments performed on cultured N18 neuroblastoma cells revealed that MTP (0.9–18 µM) markedly inhibited voltage-gated Na current, but was about 23 times less active in blocking voltage-gated K current at equimolar concentrations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a proteinaceous marine biotoxin with relatively high molecular mass is isolated and involved in the contamination of mussels harvested from shellfish farming areas.
Highlights
Many people around the world depend on the marine environment
The results of screening for Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins did not reveal any sign of toxicity in mice injected via the i.p. route with extracts of mussels, according to the AOAC method [22]
Chromatographic analysis of extracts of mussel samples by HPLC-UV revealed the absence of any conventional profile of Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) toxins, as deduced from the interpretation of the chromatographic scheme of standard domoïc acid analyzed under the same conditions
Summary
Many people around the world depend on the marine environment. The proportion of the world’s population living along the coasts is estimated at 60%, most of them depending on the sea for their survival [1]. The sea offers enormous economic and nutritional benefits since the trade in marine products plays a major role as a job creator, food supplier, income generator and factor of economic growth and development [2]. According to a natural biological process, many microorganisms have the capacity to grow up to several million cells per liter of water [3]. This natural phenomenon can cause damages such as the depletion of oxygen in the sea, lakes and lagoons, which leads to the death of fish and marine animals and the production of hemolytic and neurotoxic substances harmful to marine flora and fauna
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