title: Bistramide A, a new toxin from the urochordata Lissoclinum bistratum Sluiter: isolation and preliminary characterization.
abstract: Two cases of human intoxication caused by the lyophilized powder of Lissoclinum bistratum Sluiter, a New Caledonian ascidian, are reported. The symptoms observed were caused by a substance designated bistramide A (C40H68N2O8) of hitherto unknown chemical structure. Preliminary toxicological investigations indicate that bistramide A may effect the central nervous system, leading to paresthesia and loss of muscle tone. A progressive decrease in cardiac rhythm was also observed in animals. Bistramide A (1.4 x 10(-6) M) did not alter the resting potential of frog heart and skeletal muscle but reduced the amplitude and duration of cardiac action potential and prolonged the interval between action potentials. Bistramide A also has a marked cytotoxic effect on cancer cells KB (IC50 = 4.5 x 10(-8) M) and P 388 (IC50 = 2.0 x 10(-8) M) and on normal endothelial cells (IC50 = 2.2 x 10(-8) M). However, it has not been possible to relate the cytotoxic property to the symptoms of intoxication. Bistramide A may originate from the urochordate itself or from symbiotic algae.
authors.affiliation: SMAB (Substances Marines à Activité Biologique), UER des Sciences Pharmaceutiques, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gouiffes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Juge
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Grimaud
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Welin
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Sauviat
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Barbin
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roussakis
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Henichart
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Verbist
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides; D000818:Animals; D001156:Artemia / Q000187:drug effects; D004594:Electrophysiology; D004988:Ethers, Cyclic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D051379:Mice; D011714:Pyrans; D051381:Rats; D013141:Spiro Compounds; D014118:Toxins, Biological / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D014561:Urochordata
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D004988:Ethers, Cyclic; D011714:Pyrans; D013141:Spiro Compounds; D014118:Toxins, Biological; C059975:bistratene A