Nemertelline is a

neurotoxic Neurotoxicity is a form of toxicity in which a biological, chemical, or physical agent produces an adverse effect on the structure or function of the central and/or peripheral nervous system. It occurs when exposure to a substance – specificall ...

tetra-

pyridine Pyridine is a basic heterocyclic organic compound with the chemical formula . It is structurally related to benzene, with one methine group replaced by a nitrogen atom. It is a highly flammable, weakly alkaline, water-miscible liquid with a d ...

compound originally found in the marine hoplonemertine worm '' Amphiporus angulatus''. These worms produce a variety of toxins which are used both in hunting their prey and in defending themselves from predators. Interest in potential application of this compound as an

antifouling agent Biofouling or biological fouling is the accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae, or small animals where it is not wanted on surfaces such as ship and submarine hulls, devices such as water inlets, pipework, grates, ponds, and rivers that ...

for boats and other marine installations has led to attempts to produce it synthetically by convenient routes. Its toxicity is similar to nicotine in crustaceans but has no mammalian toxicity. It is similar to

nicotelline Nicotelline is an alkaloid first identified in 1914 as a chemical constituent of tobacco plants (''Nicotiana tabacum''). The chemical structure of nicotelline wasn't elucidated until 1956, when it was determined that nicotelline is a terpyridine ...

in structure.

References

Pyridines Neurotoxins {{Neurotoxin-stub