palytoxin

1. An extremely powerful toxin occurring in corals of the genus Palythoa of the South Pacific. Palytoxin disrupts the flow of ions across cell membranes and is the most potent known naturally occurring poison, being rapidly fatal to humans in doses of 4 micrograms. One of the most complex known nonprotein substances, it has more contiguous carbon atoms (115) than any other naturally occurring molecule. Chemical formula: C ₁₂₉ H ₂₂₃ N ₃ O ₅₄ .

Example Sentences

Mrs Stevenson later learned she had been poisoned by palytoxin - a potentially lethal chemical released by coral when stressed.

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In 2015, a Reef-A-Palooza in Orlando hosted a lecture on palytoxin, and websites aimed at aquarium owners post well-informed alerts.

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A pair of chemists discovered palytoxin decades ago when they followed the tale of "Limu-make-o-Hana," a Hawaiian legend that roughly translates as “deadly seaweed of Hana.”

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Within a decade, chemists identified the macromolecule, naming it palytoxin after the soft coral species.

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But it would take decades of work to understand palytoxin's structure.

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