title: On the chemistry, toxicology and genetics of the cyanobacterial toxins, microcystin, nodularin, saxitoxin and cylindrospermopsin.
abstract: The cyanobacteria or "blue-green algae", as they are commonly termed, comprise a diverse group of oxygenic photosynthetic bacteria that inhabit a wide range of aquatic and terrestrial environments, and display incredible morphological diversity. Many aquatic, bloom-forming species of cyanobacteria are capable of producing biologically active secondary metabolites, which are highly toxic to humans and other animals. From a toxicological viewpoint, the cyanotoxins span four major classes: the neurotoxins, hepatotoxins, cytotoxins, and dermatoxins (irritant toxins). However, structurally they are quite diverse. Over the past decade, the biosynthesis pathways of the four major cyanotoxins: microcystin, nodularin, saxitoxin and cylindrospermopsin, have been genetically and biochemically elucidated. This review provides an overview of these biosynthesis pathways and additionally summarizes the chemistry and toxicology of these remarkable secondary metabolites.
authors.affiliation: School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia. leanne.pearson@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: Leanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: Troco
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mihali
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moffitt
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kellmann
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Neilan
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids; D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D052998:Microcystins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity; D012530:Saxitoxin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity; D014498:Uracil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D008387:Marine Toxins; D052998:Microcystins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C063998:nodularin; C089595:cylindrospermopsin; D012530:Saxitoxin; D014498:Uracil; C078588:microcystin