Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Maitotoxin, a cationic channel activator

L I Escobar1, C Salvador, M Martínez

  • 1Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, D.F.

Neurobiology (Budapest, Hungary)
|August 26, 1998
PubMed
Summary

Maitotoxin (MTX), a marine toxin causing ciguatera seafood poisoning, activates a nonselective cation channel. This channel, independent of voltage, may require extracellular calcium for activation, with its receptor still unknown.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Molecular effects of ovarian stimulation for fertility preservation in breast cancer: a paired-biopsy analysis.

ESMO open·2026
Same author

Effects of Drought on Mortality in Macro Urban Areas of Brazil Between 2000 and 2019.

GeoHealth·2022
Same author

Evaluating the impact of the learning curve on the perioperative outcomes of robot-assisted radical cystectomy with intracorporeal urinary diversion.

Actas urologicas espanolas·2021
Same author

Evaluating the impact of the learning curve on the perioperative outcomes of robot-assisted radical cystectomy with intracorporeal urinary diversion.

Actas urologicas espanolas·2021
Same author

Nonpharmacological interventions to reduce respiratory viral transmission: an evidence-based review with recommendations.

Rhinology·2021
Same author

Risk assessment of arterial allograft contamination from tissue donors colonized by Candida auris.

The Journal of hospital infection·2021

Area of Science:

  • Marine biology
  • Toxicology
  • Cellular physiology

Background:

  • Maitotoxin (MTX) is a potent marine toxin produced by Gambierdiscus toxicus, implicated in ciguatera seafood poisoning.
  • MTX is known to induce significant changes in intracellular calcium (Ca2+) concentrations across various cell types.
  • Recent evidence suggests MTX lacks ionophoretic activity, challenging previous understandings of its mechanism.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and synthesize existing electrophysiological studies on Maitotoxin's cellular effects.
  • To elucidate the mechanism by which MTX alters cellular ion concentrations.
  • To characterize the properties of the channel activated by MTX.

Main Methods:

  • Compilation and analysis of published electrophysiological studies.
  • Molecular mechanics modeling to understand MTX structure-function relationships.
  • Review of experimental data on MTX-induced cellular responses.

Main Results:

  • MTX activates a voltage-independent, nonselective cationic channel.
  • Channel activation may necessitate extracellular calcium in certain biological preparations.
  • Estimated channel conductance ranges from 12 to 40 pS across different tissues.
  • No specific blockers for the MTX-activated channel have been identified to date.

Conclusions:

  • Maitotoxin likely functions by activating a specific cation channel rather than through direct ion transport.
  • The precise nature of the MTX receptor remains unidentified, warranting further investigation.
  • Understanding this channel is crucial for comprehending ciguatera pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets.

Related Experiment Videos