Palytoxin (PlTX), a large polyhydroxylated compound, is among the most potent non-peptide toxin in marine organisms known so far. The literature emphasizes the sodium/potassium pump (NaK) as the privileged target for PlTX when exerting its toxic effects. In this study, we focused on an undescribed species (Palythoa sp. Pc001), a coral species belonging to the genus Palythoa routinely cultivated in aquariums. We demonstrated that this species contains one of the highest yields of pure PlTX production ever found, 2.22 ± 0.41 mg PlTX per gram of wet Palythoa. Using molecular data combined with external morphology, we identified Palythoa sp. Pc001 as the sister species to Palythoa aff. clavata. Further, the clade of a symbiotic Symbiodinium sp. was characterised by DNA barcoding and pigment content. 2
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.