Batrachotoxin from a Golden Poison Frog Phyllobates terribilis
Batrachotoxins (BTX) are extremely potent cardiotoxic and neurotoxic steroidal alkaloids found in certain species of frogs (poison dart frog), Melyridae beetles, and birds (Pitohui, Ifrita kowaldi). Only frogs of the genus Phyllobates produce the highly lethal batrachotoxin. The toxin is released through colourless or milky secretions from glands located on the back and behind the ears of frogs from the genus Phyllobates. When one of these frogs is agitated, feels threatened or is in pain, the toxin is reflexively released through several canals. Although generally classified as a neurotoxin, batrachotoxin has marked effects on heart muscles. Batrachotoxin interferes with heart conduction, causing arrhythmias, extrasystoles, ventricular fibrillation and other changes which lead to cardiac arrest. Batrachotoxin induces a massive release of acetylcholine in nerves and muscles and destruction of synaptic vesicles, as well. The "poison dart" (or "poison arrow") frog does not produce batrachotoxin itself. It is believed that the frogs get the poison from eating ants or other insects in their native habitat, and the insects obtain the poison from a plant source. The toxin has been recently discovered in beetles,[3] making them the likely source of the toxin in birds and frogs.[4] Frogs raised in captivity do not produce batrachotoxin, and thus may be handled without the risk of death. The native habitat of poison dart frogs is the warm regions of Central America and South America in which the humidity is around 80 percent. Of the three so-called "poison dart" frogs which contain batrachotoxin - Phyllobates terribilis, Phyllobates aurotaenia, and Phyllobates bicolor - the most toxic is the most recently discovered Phyllobates terribilis. Phyllobates terribilis generally contains 27 times more batrachotoxin than its close relatives and is 20-fold more toxic.
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Photo credit: © Phil Degginger / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: alkaloid, alkaloids, batrachotoxin, cardiotoxic, cardiotoxin, frog, golden, model, models, molecular, molecule, neurotoxic, neurotoxin, phyllobates, poison, steroidal, terribilis
