Lophotoxin: a Novel Neuromuscular Toxin from Pacific Sea Whips of the Genus <i>Lophogorgia</i>

Abstract

A new neuromuscular toxin, lophotoxin, has been isolated from several pacific gorgonians of the genus Lophogorgia. The structure of lophotoxin was deduced by combined spectrochemical methods, and belongs to the well-known cembrene class of diterpenoid molecules. Lophotoxin contains furanoaldehyde and alpha, beta-epoxy-gamma-lactone functional groups, in sharp contrast to the cationic ammonium functional groups of the established neurotoxins.