Complanine, an inflammation-inducing substance isolated from the marine fireworm Eurythoe complanata.

Abstract

The marine fireworm, Eurythoe complanata, is known as a dangerous animal for humans because it induces skin inflammation through its small setae. Here, the inflammation-inducing substance was successfully isolated from the whole body using a methanolic extraction, and the inflammatory activity was determined using a bioassay. The structure was spectroscopically revealed to be a trimethylammonium with an unsaturated carbon chain and was named complanine. Complanine enhanced PKC activity in combination with TPA in vitro. This may explain the molecular mechanism behind its inflammation-inducing activity.

• Authors: Kazuhiko Nakamura, Yu Tachikawa, Makoto Kitamura, Osamu Ohno, Masami Suganuma, Daisuke Uemura
• Journal: Organic & biomolecular chemistry (Org Biomol Chem) Vol. 6 Issue 12 Pg. 2058-60 (Jun 21 2008) ISSN: 1477-0520 [Print] England
• PMID: 18528565 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Alkenes
• Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
• complanine
• Protein Kinase C

Topics

• Alkenes (chemistry, isolation & purification, toxicity)
• Animals
• Enzyme Activation
• Inflammation (chemically induced)
• Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
• Polychaeta (chemistry)
• Protein Kinase C (metabolism)
• Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (chemistry, isolation & purification, toxicity)