saxitoxin

American  

[sak-si-tok-sin] / ˌsæk sɪˈtɒk sɪn /

noun

1. a powerful neurotoxin, C 1 0 H 1 7 N 7 O 4 , produced by the dinoflagellate Gonyaulax catenella, the causative agent of red tide.

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Etymology

Origin of saxitoxin

1960–65; < New Latin Saxi ( domus ), a clam genus infected by the dinoflagellates (equivalent to Latin sax ( um ) stone + -i- -i- + domus house) + toxin

Example Sentences

With these sequences, he reconstructed a complete genome and then searched that genome for the genes involved in making saxitoxin.

From Science Daily • Dec. 2, 2025

However, only certain strains carried the ability to produce saxitoxin.

From Science Daily • Dec. 2, 2025

The two most dangerous produce powerful neurotoxins that accumulate in the marine food chain: Alexandrium catenella, which produces saxitoxin, and Pseudo-nitzschia australis, which produces domoic acid.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2025

Probably the best solution was proposed last week by Murdoch Ritchie, a Yale pharmacology professor and an expert on saxitoxin.

From Time Magazine Archive

But the CIA held on to 10.9 grams of saxitoxin, a close chemical cousin of the fearsome fugu, along with eight milligrams of a toxin made from cobra venom.

From Time Magazine Archive