HPLC analysis of tetrodotoxin production in Notophthalmus viridescens

CHED 852

Laura B. Hock1, John N. Richardson, jnrich@ship.edu2, Pablo Delis1, and Robin L. McCann, rlmcca@ship.edu2. (1) Department of Biology, Shippensburg University, 1871 Old Main Drive, Shippensburg, PA 17257, (2) Department of Chemistry, Shippensburg University, 1871 Old Main Drive, Shippensburg, PA 17257
Tetrodotoxin, a potent neurotoxin, is produced by many terrestrial and marine animals as a mode of protection from predators. Notophthalmus viridescens, or red spotted newts, produce tetrodotoxin in glands in their dermis. Twenty-eight specimens were collected from a pond in Letterkenny Army Depot, near Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. The tetrodotoxin was extracted and analyzed using a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fluorescent detection system and an enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). Quantification of tetrodotoxin was done by using a standard and creating a standard curve. The results were examined for the amount of tetrodotoxin produced per newt and the average produced per sex. They were also examined for a correlation between size and poison produced and between the number of red spots and poison produced. In addition, the results were compared to other populations of newts to examine if environmental factors, such as pollution, had an effect on tetrodotoxin production.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Biochemistry
2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008