Tetrodotoxin and Its Analogues in Cephalothrix cf. simula (Nemertea: Palaeonemertea) from the Sea of Japan (Peter the Great Gulf): Intrabody Distribution and Secretions

• Published in: Toxins Vol. 12; no. 12; p. 745
• Main Authors: Vlasenko, Anna E, Magarlamov, Timur Yu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 26-11-2020; MDPI
• Subjects: Animal behavior; Cephalothrix; Experiments; Geographical distribution; High performance liquid chromatography; Liquid chromatography; Mass spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; Nemertea; Organs; Secretions; Tetrodotoxin; tetrodotoxin analogues; Toxins; TTX; TTX distribution; Japan; HPLC–MS/MS; Cephalothrix; TTX; Nemertea; tetrodotoxin; tetrodotoxin analogues; TTX distribution
• ISSN: 2072-6651; 2072-6651
• DOI: 10.3390/toxins12120745

Some nemertean species from the genus
accumulate tetrodotoxin (TTX) in extremely high concentrations. The current study is the first to provide high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) data on tetrodotoxin and its analogues (TTXs) profile and concentration in different regions and organs of
cf.
, and its secretions produced in response to stimulation. Different specimens of
. cf.
possessed 7-11 analogues, including nine previously found in this species and two new for nemerteans-4,9-anhydro-8-epi-5,6,11-trideoxyTTX and 1-hydroxy-8-epi-5,6,11-trideoxyTTX. The study of the toxins' distribution in different regions and organs of nemerteans revealed the same qualitative composition of TTXs throughout the body but differences in the total concentration of the toxins. The total concentration of TTXs was highest in the anterior region of the body and decreased towards the posterior; the ratio of the analogues also differed between regions. The data obtained suggest a pathway of TTXs uptake in
cf.
and the role of toxins in the life activity of nemerteans.