Brevetoxins, unique activators of voltage-sensitive sodium channels, bind to specific sites in rat brain synaptosomes.

The polyether lipid-soluble toxins isolated from the marine dinoflagellate Ptychodiscus brevis (formerly Gymnodinium breve) have been determined to bind to a unique site associated with rat brain synaptosomes. Using [3H]brevetoxin PbTx-3 as a specific probe, binding was determined at 4 degrees in rat brain synaptosomes using a rapid centrifugation technique. Rosenthal analysis yields a KD of 2.9 nM and a Bmax of 6.8 pmol of toxin/mg of protein. Labeled probe can be displaced by unlabeled PbTx-3, PbTx-2, or synthetic PbTx-3 (reduced PbTx-2) but not by a nontoxic, synthetic oxidized derivative of PbTx-2. Competition experiments using natural toxin probes specific for sites 1-4 of the voltage-dependent sodium channel have illustrated that PbTx-3 does not bind to any of the previously described sites associated with the channel. A fifth site is proposed. In addition, because of the varied nomenclature associated with the brevetoxins, a new classification system is proposed.