title: Toxicity of the cyanobacterial neurotoxin beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine to three aquatic animal species.
abstract: Beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), a neurotoxin and candidate contributory cause of neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is produced by aquatic and terrestrial cyanobacteria. We have determined BMAA toxicity to three aquatic animal species: zebra fish (Danio rerio), brine shrimp (Artemia salina) and the protozoan Nassula sorex. Responses included: clonus convulsions and abnormal spinal axis formation (D. rerio), loss of phototaxis (A. salina) and mortalities (all species). These systems offer potential to further understand BMAA toxicity and the bioaccumulation and fates of BMAA in aquatic food chains leading to potential human exposure.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK. E.L.Purdie@dundee.ac.uk
authors.forename: Esme L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Purdie
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Metcalf
authors.forename: Shereen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kashmiri
authors.forename: Geoffrey A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Codd
mesh_terms: D000599:Amino Acids, Diamino / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001156:Artemia; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000737:chemistry*; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000139:chemically induced; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D045988:Procyonidae; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D013997:Time Factors; D015027:Zebrafish
chemical_list: D000599:Amino Acids, Diamino; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D009498:Neurotoxins; C001824:beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine