Penitrem A
Penitrem A (tremortin) is an indole-diterpenoid mycotoxin produced by certain species of Aspergillus, Claviceps, and Penicillium, which can be found growing on various plant species such as ryegrass.[1] Penitrem A is one of many secondary metabolites following the synthesis of paxilline in Penicillium crostosum.[2] Penitrem A poisoning in humans and animals usually occurs through the consumption of contaminated foods by mycotoxin-producing species, which is then distributed through the body by the bloodstream.[2] It bypasses the blood-brain barrier to exert its toxicological effects on the central nervous system.[2] In humans, penitrem A poisoning has been associated with severe tremors, hyperthermia, nausea/vomiting, diplopia, and bloody diarrhea.[2] In animals, symptoms of penitrem A poisoning has been associated with symptoms ranging from tremors, seizures, and hyperthermia to ataxia and nystagmus.[2]
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| Other names
Tremortin | |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
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| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.162.141 |
PubChem CID |
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| UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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| Properties | |
| C37H44ClNO6 | |
| Molar mass | 634.20136 |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
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| Infobox references | |
Roquefortine C has been commonly detected in documented cases of penitrem A poisoning, making it a possible biomarker for diagnoses.[3]
Mechanism of action
Penitrem A impairs GABAergic amino acid neurotransmission and antagonizes high-conductance Ca2+-activated potassium channels in both humans and animals.[4] Impairment of the GABAergic amino acid neurotransmission comes with the spontaneous release of the excitatory amino acids glutamate and aspartate as well as the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA).[4] The sudden release of these neurotransmitters results in imbalanced GABAergic signalling, which gives rise to neurological disorders such as the tremors associated with penitrem A poisoning.[4]
Penitrem A also induces the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the neutrophil granulocytes of humans and animals.[2] Increased ROS production results in tissue damage in the brain and other afflicted organs as well as hemorrhages in acute poisonings.[2]
Synthesis
In Penicillium crustosum, synthesis of penitrem A and other secondary metabolites follows the synthesis of paxilline.[5] Synthesis of penitrem A involves six oxidative-transformation enzymes (four cytochrome P450 monooxygenases and two flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-dependent monooxygenases), two acetyltransferases, one oxidoreductase, and one prenyltransferase.[5] These enzymes are encoded by a cluster of genes used in paxilline synthesis and penitrem A-F synthesis.[5] The pathway is described below:
- Oxidoreductase catalyzes the reduction of paxilline's ketone and also adds a dimethylallyl group to its aromatic ring.[5]
- Acetyltransferases catalyze the removal of the intermediate's lower right-hand hydroxyl group and reduce of one of the nearby methyl groups to a methylene group.[5]
- Oxidative-transformation enzyme catalyzes the addition of a hydroxyl group to the intermediate's dimethylallyl group. The dimethylallyl's double bond migrates down one carbon.[5]
- Prenyltransferase catalyzes the formation of a dimethyl-cyclopentane and a cyclobutane using the intermediate's aromatic ring-alcohol group.[5]
- Oxidative-transformation enzyme catalyzes the formation of a methylenecyclohexane using the intermediate's dimethyl-cyclopentane, forming secopenitrem D.[5]
- Oxidative-transformation enzyme catalyzes the formation of a cyclooctane using cyclobutane's alcohol group and the carbon joining secopenitrem D's cyclohexane and cyclopentane, forming penitrem D.[5]
- Oxidative-transformation enzyme catalyzes the addition a chlorine atom at penitrem D's aromatic ring, forming penitrem C.[5]
- Oxidative-transformation enzyme catalyzes the formation of an epoxide ring at penitrem C's oxane-double bond, forming penitrem F.[5]
- Oxidative-transformation enzyme catalyzes the addition of a hydroxyl group at the carbon joining penitrem F's methylenecyclohexane and cyclobutane, forming penitrem A.[5]
See also
References
- Walter, Sean L. (2002). "Acute penitrem A and roquefortine poisoning in a dog". The Canadian Veterinary Journal. 43 (5): 372–374. ISSN 0008-5286. PMC 339273. PMID 12001505.
- Berntsen, H.F; Bogen, I.L; Wigestrand, M.B; Fonnum, F; Walaas, S.I; Moldes-Anaya, A (2017-12-01). "The fungal neurotoxin penitrem A induces the production of reactive oxygen species in human neutrophils at submicromolar concentrations". Toxicology. 392: 64–70. doi:10.1016/j.tox.2017.10.008. ISSN 0300-483X. PMID 29037868.
- Tiwary, AK (March 2009). "Using roquefortine C as a biomarker for penitrem A intoxication". Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. 21 (2): 237–239. doi:10.1177/104063870902100210. PMID 19286504.
- Moldes-Anaya, Angel S; Fonnum, Frode; Eriksen, Gunnar S; Rundberget, Thomas; Walaas, S. Ivar; Wigestrand, Mattis B (2011-12-01). "In vitro neuropharmacological evaluation of penitrem-induced tremorgenic syndromes: Importance of the GABAergic system". Neurochemistry International. 59 (7): 1074–1081. doi:10.1016/j.neuint.2011.08.014. ISSN 0197-0186. PMID 21924313.
- Liu, Chengwei; Tagami, Koichi; Minami, Atsushi; Matsumoto, Tomoyuki; Frisvad, Jens Christian; Suzuki, Hideyuki; Ishikawa, Jun; Gomi, Katsuya; Oikawa, Hideaki (2015-04-01). "Reconstitution of Biosynthetic Machinery for the Synthesis of the Highly Elaborated Indole Diterpene Penitrem". Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 54 (19): 5748–5752. doi:10.1002/anie.201501072. ISSN 1433-7851. PMID 25831977.