The Deadly World of Tetrodotoxin

Tetrodotoxin is one of the most toxic biologically produced compounds known to mankind. It is well-known for being produced by tetraodontidae, a family of fish known to include pufferfish and blowfish.

Tetraodontidae is the family of fish known to produce tetrodotoxin.

The LD50 of tetrodotoxin via injection in mice is 10.7 µg/kg.

<p>Species such as Takifubu rubripes utilize tetrodotoxin as a self-defense mechanism.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Toxic species that have previously been thought to be prime producers of tetrodotoxin have been shown to become significantly less toxic when grown in non-toxic laboratory settings, indicating that production of tetrodotoxin might not be a biological process endogenous to this group.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Richard Dennis Tetrodotoxin, one of the most toxic biologically produced compounds known to mankind, is well-known for being produced by tetraodontidae, a family of fish known to include pufferfish and blowfish. The toxin is highly effective, presenting an LD50 of 10.7 µg/kg via injection and 532 µg/kg via ingestion in mice, and species such as Takifubu rubripes utilize the toxin actively as a self-defense mechanism. The toxin is frequently described as “over a thousand times more toxic than cyanide” as a descriptor of its toxicity. However, toxic species such as these which have previously been thought to be prime producers of tetrodotoxin have been shown to become significantly less toxic when grown in non-toxic laboratory settings, indicating that production of tetrodotoxin might not be a biological process endogenous to this group. Many strains of bacteria have been isolated from a number of species known to produce tetrodotoxin which themselves produce tetrodotoxin, indicatin.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>tetraodontidae of fish: pufferfish and blowfish</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>532 µg/kg</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>toxic species</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>bacteria have been isolated from species known to produce tetrodotoxin</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>over a thousand times more toxic than cyanide</p> Signup and view all the answers