(TTX)
A neurotoxin which is found in some of Tetraodontiformes and several other animals.
(Species that carry the toxin)
• Tetraodontiformes: Many species are protected from predation by the toxin.
• other animals: E.g. blue-ringed octopuses, rough-skinned newts, moon snails.
It is produced by marine bacteria and accumulates in the internal organs of Tetraodontiformes, in the salivary glands of blue-ringed octopuses, in the skin glands of rough-skinned newts, etc. Moon snails may concentrate toxins from the clams they eat.
It is a sodium channel blocker, that inhibits the firing of action potentials in neurons by binding to the voltage-gated sodium channels in nerve cell membranes and blocking the passage of sodium ions into the neuron. This prevents the nervous system from carrying messages and thus muscles from contracting in response to nervous stimulation, inducing paralysis and death by asphyxiation.
![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/GSCXS-LZcKM/maxresdefault.jpg)