Domoic acid



Domoic acid
IUPAC name (2S,3S,4S)-4-[(2Z,4E)-6-carboxyhepta-2,4-dien-2-yl]-3-​(carboxymethyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid
Identifiers
CAS number 14277-97-5
PubChem 6426712
SMILES CC(\C=C\C=C(\C)/[C@H]1CN[C@@H]([C@H]1CC(=O)O)C(=O)O)C(=O)O
Properties
Molecular formula C15H21NO6
Molar mass 311.33 g/mol
Appearance White powder
Hazards
R-phrases R20 R21 R22
S-phrases S37
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state
(at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox disclaimer and references

Domoic acid, which causes amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), is an amino acid phycotoxin (algal toxin) found associated with certain algal blooms.[1]

Occurrence

In 1958, domoic acid was originally isolated from the red alga called "doumoi" or "hanayanagi" (Chondria armata[2])in Japan. "Doumoi" is used as an anthelmintic in Tokunoshima, Kagoshima.[citation needed] Domoic acid is also produced by diatoms of the genus Pseudo-nitzschia.[3][4] Domoic acid is commercially available.

Chemistry

Toxicology

The chemical can neurotoxin, causing short-term memory loss, brain damage, and death in severe cases in Atlantic Canada. Algal bloom are associated with the phenomenon of ASP. Considerable recent research has been carried out by the Marine Mammal Center and other scientific centers on the association of red tides to domoic acid and to resulting neurological damage in marine mammals of the Pacific Ocean. In marine mammals, domoic acid typically causes seizures and tremors.

In the brain, domoic acid especially damages the hippocampus and amygdaloid nucleus. It damages the neurons by activating AMPA and calcium. Although calcium flowing into cells is a normal event, the uncontrolled increase of calcium causes the cell to degenerate. Because the hippocampus may be severely damaged, long-term memory loss occurs.

References

  1. ^ Domoic Acid and Pseudo-nitzschia References Domoic Acid and Pseudo-nitzschia References
  2. ^ Picture
  3. ^ Pseudo-nitzschia H. Peragallo in H. & M. Peragallo 1900, emend Hasle 1993
  4. ^ Diatoms (12 species)
 
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Domoic_acid". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.