Anatoxin-a

Anatoxin-a is a secondary, bicyclic amine alkaloid and cyanotoxin with acute neurotoxicity. The toxin is produced by at least four different genera of cyanobacteria and has been reported in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Symptoms of anatoxin exposure are loss of coordination, muscular fasciculations, convulsions and death by respiratory paralysis. Its mode of action is through the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor where it acts as an analogue of acetylcholine. The molecule is not degraded by cholinesterase thus causes permanent stimulation of muscle cells leading to paralysis. Information on carcinogenicity is not available.