It is an activator of voltage-sensitive Na+ channels.

It is a neurotoxin that binds to voltage-gated sodium channels in nerve cells, leading to disruption of normal neurological processes and causing the illness clinically described as neurotoxic shellfish poisoning.

Preparative procedures:

Prepared from laboratory cultures of Ptychodiscus brevis by a combination of solvent partitioning, thin-layer chromatography, and high performance preparative reverse phase C-18 liquid chromatography.

Stability and storage recommendations:

Brevetoxins are unusually stable materials in the dry state under vacuum. It is recommended that PbTx-2 be stored at -20°C in its original unopened vial until use. Once opened, PbTx-2 should be dissolved in an appropriate solvent like acetone, acetonitrile, alcohol or ethyl acetate for preparation of stock solutions. Use of Dymethyl sufoxide (DMSO) is specifically discouraged because of its ability to carry toxic materials across membranes.

PbTx-2 is stable in solvents, including water, where half-lives for active material range from 4-6 months. Stock solutions may be stored in a dry argon or nitrogen atmosphere in solution, or aliquots may be prepared from the stock solution and dispensed into individual vials for resealing under vacuum if desired. Unopened vials of Brevetoxin PbTx-2 are stable at freezer temperatures for a minimum of 6 months.

For research use only — not intended for food, diagnostic or therapeutic use