Identification of Tricyclic Guanidino Compounds from the Tetrodotoxin-Bearing Newt Taricha granulosa

Org Lett. 2021 May 7;23(9):3513-3517. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.1c00916. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

Abstract

The biosynthesis of the potent neurotoxin tetrodotoxin (TTX, 1) is still unresolved. We used MS-guided screening and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses including long-range HSQMBC to characterize two novel skeletal tricyclic guanidino compounds, Tgr-288 (2a and 2b) and Tgr-210 (3), from the TTX-bearing newt, Taricha granulosa. The presence of these compounds in toxic newts is congruent with a previously proposed pathway for TTX biosynthesis in terrestrial organisms that includes a monoterpene precursor and the production of structurally diversified guanidino compounds.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Guanidine / analogs & derivatives
  • Guanidine / chemistry*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Molecular Structure
  • Monoterpenes / chemistry*
  • Salamandridae / metabolism*
  • Tetrodotoxin / biosynthesis
  • Tetrodotoxin / chemistry*

Substances

  • Monoterpenes
  • Tetrodotoxin
  • Guanidine