Hydroxylation of PTX (+)-251D in Adelphobates galactonotus

• Grant number: 21/03515-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: December 01, 2021
• End date: September 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Physiology of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Taran Grant
• Grantee: Basil Minder
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/15425-0 - A multi-disciplinary approach to the study of amphibian diversification: phase 2, AP.JP2

Abstract

A successful strategy to avoid predation is chemical defence. In anurans, the ability to sequester alkaloids from the diet evolved multiple times independently. Extensive research has been conducted to isolate more than 1200 compounds in the toxins used by them. However, little is known about the sequestration mechanism itself. Some species have the ability to modify the alkaloids they uptake. Here we want to investigate the pathway in Adelphobates galactonotus, which is able to hydroxylate the consumed pumiliotoxin PTX (+)-251D to form the allopumiliotoxin aPTX (+)-267A, which is five times more potent. The two planed experiments presented in this masters project will provide insights in the organs and tissues involved in the modification and trans-locations in the body as well as a quantification of the different processes.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MINDER, BASIL; MENDONCA, JACQUELINE N.; GRANT, TARAN; LOPES, NORBERTO P.. Gas-Phase Fragmentation Reactions of Protonated Pumiliotoxin (+)-251D and Allopumiliotoxin (+)-267A in ESI-MS/MS. Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, v. N/A, p. 5-pg., 2023-06-20. (21/03515-8, 20/02207-5, 18/15425-0)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

MINDER, Basil. Hydroxylation of PTX (+)-251D in Adelphobates galactonotus (Anura: Dendrobatidae). 2024. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB) São Paulo.