School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
Aquat Toxicol. 2011 Jul;104(1-2):61-72. doi: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2011.04.001. Epub 2011 Apr 8.
The potent neurotoxin tetrodotoxin (TTX) has been identified from taxonomically diverse marine organisms. TTX possesses a unique cage-like structure, however, its biosynthesis has yet to be elucidated. Biosynthetic studies in the TTX-producing newt Taricha torosa, and in bacterial genera, including Vibrio, have proven inconclusive. Indeed, very few studies have been performed that address the cellular production of TTX. Here we review the sources of TTX described to date and provide evidence for the biosynthesis of TTX by symbiotic microorganisms in higher taxa. Chemical and genetic based biosynthesis studies of TTX undertaken thus far are discussed and we outline approaches which may be useful for expanding upon the current body of knowledge. The complex biosynthesis of structurally similar toxins, that reveal clues into the biosynthetic pathway of TTX, is also presented.
已从分类多样的海洋生物中鉴定出强神经毒素——河豚毒素 (TTX)。TTX 具有独特的笼状结构，但它的生物合成途径尚未阐明。在产 TTX 的蝾螈 Taricha torosa 和包括弧菌属在内的细菌属中进行的生物合成研究均未得出明确结论。事实上，很少有研究涉及 TTX 的细胞产生。本文综述了迄今为止描述的 TTX 来源，并为高等分类群中的共生微生物产生 TTX 提供了证据。讨论了迄今为止对 TTX 进行的基于化学和遗传的生物合成研究，并概述了可能有助于扩展现有知识体系的方法。还呈现了结构类似毒素的复杂生物合成，这些毒素揭示了 TTX 生物合成途径的线索。
