%0 Journal Article
%T Characterisation of the paralytic shellfish toxin biosynthesis gene clusters in Anabaena circinalis AWQC131C and Aphanizomenon sp. NH-5
%A Troco K Mihali
%A Ralf Kellmann
%A Brett A Neilan
%J BMC Biochemistry
%D 2009
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1471-2091-10-8
%X We describe the identification, annotation and bioinformatic characterisation of the putative paralytic shellfish toxin biosynthesis clusters in an Australian isolate of Anabaena circinalis and an American isolate of Aphanizomenon sp., both members of the Nostocales. These putative PST gene clusters span approximately 28 kb and contain genes coding for the biosynthesis and export of the toxin. A putative insertion/excision site in the Australian Anabaena circinalis AWQC131C was identified, and the organization and evolution of the gene clusters are discussed. A biosynthetic pathway leading to the formation of saxitoxin and its analogues in these organisms is proposed.The PST biosynthesis gene cluster presents a mosaic structure, whereby genes have apparently transposed in segments of varying size, resulting in different gene arrangements in all three sxt clusters sequenced so far. The gene cluster organizational structure and sequence similarity seems to reflect the phylogeny of the producer organisms, indicating that the gene clusters have an ancient origin, or that their lateral transfer was also an ancient event. The knowledge we gain from the characterisation of the PST biosynthesis gene clusters, including the identity and sequence of the genes involved in the biosynthesis, may also afford the identification of these gene clusters in dinoflagellates, the cause of human mortalities and significant financial loss to the tourism and shellfish industries.Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) is a syndrome acquired through the consumption of contaminated shellfish or drinking water. Its symptoms include numbness and ascending paralysis followed by respiratory arrest [1]. Toxicity is mediated by a group of toxins collectively referred to as paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) or saxitoxins (STX).The global occurrence of PSTs coupled with their chemical stability and high toxicity, presents a formidable problem for marine and freshwater regulating bodies, while detrimenta
%U http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2091/10/8