title: Lophotoxin: a novel neuromuscular toxin from Pacific sea whips of the genus Lophogorgia.
abstract: A new neuromuscular toxin, lophotoxin, has been isolated from several pacific gorgonians of the genus Lophogorgia. The structure of lophotoxin was deduced by combined spectrochemical methods, and belongs to the well-known cembrene class of diterpenoid molecules. Lophotoxin contains furanoaldehyde and alpha, beta-epoxy-gamma-lactone functional groups, in sharp contrast to the cationic ammonium functional groups of the established neurotoxins.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003063:Cnidaria / Q000032:analysis*; D003064:Cnidarian Venoms / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D051379:Mice; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009132:Muscles / Q000294:innervation; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013729:Terpenes
chemical_list: D003064:Cnidarian Venoms; D004224:Diterpenes; D013729:Terpenes; C030303:lophotoxin