Paralytic shellfish toxin profiles and toxin variability of the genus Alexandrium (Dinophyceae) isolated from the Southeast China Sea

Paralytic shellfish toxin (PST) profiles of 16 Alexandrium isolates from the Southeast China Sea were analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Toxin content and composition of three A. tamarense isolates, ATDH01, ATGX02 and ATMJ02, were also investigated at different growth phases and under various culture conditions. Our results showed that six strains of A. affine were non-toxic, while 10 strains of A. tamarense and A. catenella were toxic. These toxic isolates grown in the same culture conditions consistently produced an unusually high proportion of the N-sulfocarbamoyl toxin C1/2 (around 60–80% of total toxins) and medium amounts of gonyautoxin GTX5 (around 15–30% of total) with only trace quantities (<5% of total) of other saxitoxin derivatives (i.e. GTX1, GTX3, GTX4 and neoSTX). The toxin composition of three A. tamarense isolates did not vary with the growth phases, although higher toxin contents (Qt, fmol cell−1) were found in the exponential phase. Variations in temperature, salinity and nutrient levels affected toxin content of three A. tamarense isolates but they did not have pronounced effects on the toxin composition (mole %). These results indicate that toxin composition remained relatively constant under various culture conditions, suggesting that toxin composition could be used as a stable biomarker for the Alexandrium species in this region. However, comparison of toxin profiles between isolates from different localities require special caution since isolates even from the same region can have distinct toxin profiles.