Journal of Oceanography and Marine Research
Open Access

Luis M. Botana

Publications

• Research Article
  Warm Seawater Microalgae: Growth and Toxic Profile of Ostreopsis Spp. from European Coasts
  Author(s): Andrea Fernández-Araujo, Amparo Alfonso, Jose M. Antelo, Tania Davila, Carmen Alfonso, Panagiota Katikou and Luis M. BotanaAndrea Fernández-Araujo, Amparo Alfonso, Jose M. Antelo, Tania Davila, Carmen Alfonso, Panagiota Katikou and Luis M. Botana
  
  Palytoxin (PLTX) is a complex marine toxin synthesized by the soft coral Palythoa toxica and by species of the benthic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis spp. The toxin binds to the active Na, K-ATPase pump in the cellular membrane. This interaction changes the protein conformation and produces a non-specific cation channel. Using the Fluorescent Polarization (FP) technique to quantify the PLTX concentration, the production of PLTX-like products was measured in several cultures of Ostreopsis ovata and Ostreosis siamensis. The cultures were grown under different conditions to study the optimal parameters to grow and to produce toxins. Serious difficulties were found to quantify the number of cells at the end of the exponential phase. In order to avoid any toxin loss, the weight of the pellet obtained after careful filtration was used as reliable parameter to .. View More»
  DOI: 10.4172/2332-2632.1000104

  Abstract PDF

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