Yessotoxin and its derivatives (about 90) are isolated from algae belonging to the species Protoceratium reticulatum, Gonyaulax cf. Spinifera, Lingulodinium polyedrum and from invertebrate organisms that feed on these algae. Previously
yessotoxin have been associated with the group of diarrheal toxins. Later studies of the possible impact of
yessotoxin on the activity of
alkaline phosphatase allowed to exclude them from this group.
Yessotoxin causes a violation of
calcium entry in the cells, which, in turn, effects the
calcium-
calmodulin system and thus influences into homeostasis of the organism as a whole. It was shown that
yessotoxin induces a biphasic change in the concentration of
adenosine monophosphate, an initial increase with a subsequent relative decrease, within some minutes after adding the toxin to the lymphocytes cell culture.
Yessotoxin has effects on immune system; which is manifested in an increase of
cytokines level, by inducing the expression of the genes encoding them.
Yessotoxin have impact into processes of cell adhesion via
E-cadherin and, thus, could be an important factor in the development of
Alzheimer's disease. It has been established that
yessotoxin caused the development of apoptosis. In those cases all three mechanisms of cell death took place - apoptosis, paraptosis and autophagy.
Yessotoxin's acute toxicity doses according to different data are from 100 to 500-750 μg per 1kg of
body weight.
Yessotoxin's acute reference dose (ARfD) - 25 μg/kg of
body weight per day. The results of the analysis of
yessotoxin level in shellfish meat showed that none of the studied samples contained more than 3.75 mg
yessotoxin equivalents/kg shellfish meat. This level has been adopted by the European Union as the maximum acceptable level of
yessotoxin in shellfish meat (EU Regulation N 786/2013). Presented data on the mechanism of action, toxicity and prevalence of yessotoxins make it necessary to establish regulations of their content in seafood, placed on the markets of the Eurasian Economic Union.