Okadaic acid (OA) and dinophysistoxin (DTX) are toxins produced by dinoflagellates in the genera Dinophysis and Prorocentrum. What is the associated toxicity in humans and the mechanism of action of the toxin(s)?
OA and DTX exposure from edible seafood results in rapid onset of diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. The reported mechanism of action is inhibition of protein phosphatases (PP2a, PP5, and PP1). (Twiner, Michael, et al. “Structure–Activity Relationship Studies Using Natural and Synthetic Okadaic Acid/Dinophysistoxin Toxins.” Marine Drugs, vol. 14, no. 11, 2016, p. 207., doi:10.3390/md14110207.)
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