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Science 19 May 1967:
Vol. 156. no. 3777, pp. 976 - 979
DOI: 10.1126/science.156.3777.976
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Articles

Tetrodotoxin Derivatives: Chemical Structure and Blockage of Nerve Membrane Conductance

Toshio Narahashi 1, John W. Moore 1, and Robin N. Poston 1

1 Department of Physiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durhanm, North Carolina 27706

The nerve-impuilse-blocking actions of derivatives of tetrodotoxin have been tested on lobster and squid axons. The block produced by deoxytetrodotoxin was similar to that produced by tetrodotoxin and was probably caused by tetrodotoxin contamination. Tetrodaminotoxin and anhydrotetrodotoxin also produced a similar block but at such high concentrations that tetrodotoxin contamination cannot be ruled out. The hydroxyl group of C4 and the hemilactal oxygen links play an important role for the nerve-blocking action.


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Effects of Specific Modifications of Several Hydroxyls of Tetrodotoxin on Its Affinity to Rat Brain Membrane.
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Adrenergic Mechanisms in the Sinus Node.
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Saxitoxin and Tetrodotoxin: Comparison of Nerve Blocking Mechanism.
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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)