Definition of Saxitoxin
1. Noun. A powerful neurotoxin produced by certain dinoflagellates found in red tides; it can accumulate in mollusks that feed on the dinoflagellates and cause food poisoning to humans.
Definition of Saxitoxin
1. [n -S]
Medical Definition of Saxitoxin
1.
Neurotoxin produced by the red tide dinoflagellates, Gonyaulax catenella and G. Tamarensis. It binds to the sodium channel, blocking the passage of action potentials. Its action closely resembles that of tetrodotoxin. The toxin was originally isolated from the clam, Saxidomus giganteus.
This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology
(11 Mar 2008)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Saxitoxin
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