Domoic acid | Marine natural product neurotoxin

Domoic acid (DA; 14277-97-5)), a kainic acid-type neurotoxin produced by certain species of the marine pennate diatom Pseudo-nitzschia, is responsible for amnesic shellfish poisoning.¹ Suspension feeders such as bivalve mollusks can accumulate and retain high amounts of DA in their tissues, threatening human health.^2,3 DA is a potent agonist at kainate and AMPA receptors⁴ and induces convulsive behavior and seizures in rodents⁵. It induces structural and molecular changes in the developing zebra fish nervous system.⁶

References/Citations:

1. Nie et al. (2022), Biosynthesis and detection of domoic acid from diatom Pseudo-nitzschia: A review; Curr. Pharm. Biotechnol., June 24 online ahead of print
2. Garcia-Corona et al. (2022), First subcellular localization of the amnesic shellfish toxin, domoic acid, in bivalve tissues: Deciphering the physiological mechanisms involved in its long-retention in the king scallop Pecten Maximus; Harmful Algae, 116 102251
3. Guillotin and Delcourt (2021), Marine Neurotoxins’ Effects on Environmental and Human Health: an OMICS Overview; Drugs, 20 18
4. Hampson et al. (1992), Interaction of domoic acid and several derivatives with kainic acid and AMPA binding sites in rat brain; Eur. J. Pharmacol., 218 1
5. Chiamulera et al. (1992), Domoic acid toxicity in rats and mice after intracerebroventricular administration: comparison with excitatory amino acid agonists; Pharmacol. Toxicol., 70 115
6. Panlilio et al. (2020), Developmental Neurotoxicity of the Harmful Algal Bloom Toxin Domoic Acid: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Altered Behavior in the Zebrafish Model; Environ. Health Perspect., 128 117002