Microcystins from Anabaena flos-aquae NRC 525-17

Anabaena flos-aquae NRC 525-17 produces a very potent neurotoxin, anatoxin-a(s). During isolation of the neurotoxin, we found that the strain contains four other toxic compounds which show strong hepatotoxicity. The four toxins, toxins 1, 1', 2, and 3, were successfully purified. Toxin 2, one of major toxins, was identified as 3-desmethylmicrocystin LR (1) by comparison of spectral data of the known compound. Since the three other toxins contain an unknown amino acid, GC/MS was applied and it revealed the presence of homotyrosine in toxins 1 (2) and 1' (3). Only a partial structure was obtained for toxin 3 due to the small amount present in the cells.