Presence of isoquinoline alkaloids in molluscan ganglia.
Tetrahydropapaveroline and reticuline, isoquinoline alkaloids, were purified and identified in the pedal ganglia of the marine mollusk Mytilus edulis.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the presence of tetrahydropapaveroline and reticuline, isoquinoline alkaloids, in animal tissues previously shown to express opiate receptors.


RESULTS
This was achieved by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detection and finally identified by electro-spray ionization quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOF). The expression of these two terahydroisoquinoline alkaloids in the animals neural tissue is at the level of 2.5+/-0.64 ng/ganglion and 1.8+/-0.52 ng/ganglion, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
This finding suggests that morphine biosynthesis may occur in Mytilus neural tissues, and that the biosynthesis pathway may be similar to that reported in the poppy plant.
Neuroscience Research Institute, State University of New York, College at Old Westbury, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA.
Wei
W
Zhu
Yuliang
Y
Ma
George B
GB
Stefano
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D017952:Ganglia, Invertebrate / Q000737:chemistry*; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000032:analysis*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry
D000470:Alkaloids; D007546:Isoquinolines