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Metal Complexes and Free Radical Toxicity Derived From Pfiesteria piscicida

Published

Author(s)

Peter D. Moeller, Kevin Beauchesne, Kevin Huncik, William Davis, Steven J. Christopher, Andrew Gelasco, Pamela Riggs-Gelasco

Abstract

Pfiesteria piscicida represents one of many dinoflagellate species inhabiting inter-coastal waterways and estuaries. This organism has been implicated in the production of a potent ichthyotoxin affecting estuarine fish as well as humans. The presence of significant quantities of copper and iron in purified toxic extracts derived from Pfiesteria piscicida provided evidence that metals played a significant role in the observed toxic activity. The results of our research demonstrate that organically complexed metals and the generation of associated free radicals are responsible for the observed toxicity derived from mass cultured extracts of Pfiesteria piscicida. We report in this paper the first identification and characterization of these molecules isolated from marine microalgae. We also report on the potential mode of action of these metallated toxins produced by Pfiesteria piscicida.
Citation
Environmental Science & Technology

Keywords

dinoflagellate, Pfiesteria pisicida

Citation

Moeller, P. , Beauchesne, K. , Huncik, K. , Davis, W. , Christopher, S. , Gelasco, A. and Riggs-Gelasco, P. (2007), Metal Complexes and Free Radical Toxicity Derived From Pfiesteria piscicida, Environmental Science & Technology (Accessed March 28, 2024)
Created February 14, 2007, Updated October 12, 2021