Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 3, 2025

A High-throughput-compatible FRET-based Platform for Identification and Characterization of Botulinum Neurotoxin Light Chain Modulators
Published on: December 27, 2013
Total Synthesis of Aetokthonotoxin, the Cyanobacterial Neurotoxin Causing Vacuolar Myelinopathy
Manuel G Ricardo1,2, Markus Schwark3, Dayma Llanes1
1Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Weinberg 3, 06120, Halle/Saale, Germany.
Abstract:
Aetokthonotoxin has recently been identified as the cyanobacterial neurotoxin causing Vacuolar Myelinopathy, a fatal neurologic disease, spreading through a trophic cascade and affecting birds of prey such as the bald eagle in the USA. Here, we describe the total synthesis of this specialized metabolite. The complex, highly brominated 1,2'-biindole could be synthesized via a Somei-type Michael reaction as key step. The optimised sequence yielded the natural product in five steps with an overall yield of 29 %.
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