Abstract

The toxic dinoflagellates of the genus Alexandrium are the main responsible for the proliferation of harmful algae (HAB) in coastal waters around the wolrd. There are powerful neurotoxic alkaloid synthesizer, such as paralyzing shellfish toxins (PST), that produce paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in humans and other high tropic level consumers. In recent decades eutrophication of coastal waters with organic nitrogen is considered one of the driving forces of HAB, partly produced by anthropogenic activity. Addtionality, PSTs are highly nitrogenous molecules, reaching up 76% of intracelullar concentration in Alexamdrium after in nitrogen enrichment event. The aim of this study was to elucidate how increased of nitrate causes metabolic changes in Alexandrium catenella and how this affect the expression of proteins related to the biosynthesis of PST.