Environmental stress and domoic acid production by Pseudo-nitzschia: a physiological perspective

Production of domoic acid (DA) by the pennate diatom Pseudo‐nitzschia multiseries is associated with physiological stress caused by silicate (Si) and/or phosphate (P) limitation. Such limitation may promote DA synthesis by (1) reducing primary metabolic activity, thus making available necessary prec...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Natural toxins 1998, Vol.6 (3/4), p.127-135
Main Authors: Pan, Y, Bates, S.S, Cembella, A.D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
amnesic shellfish poisoning
biosynthesis
Cell Division
diatom
Diatoms - physiology
DNA - biosynthesis
domoic acid
environmental stress
Kainic Acid - analogs & derivatives
Kainic Acid - metabolism
Marine Toxins - metabolism
Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents - metabolism
neurotoxin
neurotoxins
nitrogen
Nutritional Status
Phosphates - analysis
phosphorus
Pseudo-nitzschia
Pseudo-nitzschia multiseries
Silicates - chemistry
silicon
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Summary:Production of domoic acid (DA) by the pennate diatom Pseudo‐nitzschia multiseries is associated with physiological stress caused by silicate (Si) and/or phosphate (P) limitation. Such limitation may promote DA synthesis by (1) reducing primary metabolic activity, thus making available necessary precursors, high energy compounds, and cofactors, and (2) favoring the expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of this toxin. In the case of Si and P‐limitation, DNA synthesis and the progression through the cell division cycle are slowed, perhaps prolonging or arresting the cells in the stage of the division cycle which is most conducive to DA production. However, N‐limitation results in an insufficient pool of cellular free N, which restricts synthesis of this nitrogenous toxin. A continuous supply of photophosphorylated high‐energy intermediates (e.g., ATP and NADPH) is necessary for DA synthesis. In order to better understand the mechanism(s) of DA production, more studies are needed to elucidate: (1) the details of the biosynthetic pathway, (2) the regulation of enzymes involved in the pathway, (3) the relation between DA synthesis and the cell division cycle, (4) the cellular compartmentalization of DA biosynthesis, and (5) other environmental factors that may trigger DA production. Finally, these studies should be extended to include toxigenic Pseudo‐nitzschia species other than P. multiseries, to confirm the commonality of these mechanisms. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ISSN:1056-9014
1522-7189
DOI:10.1002/(SICI)1522-7189(199805/08)6:3/4<127::AID-NT9>3.0.CO;2-2