ABSTRACT
Beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), a neurotoxin and candidate contributory cause of neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is produced by aquatic and terrestrial cyanobacteria. We have determined BMAA toxicity to three aquatic animal species: zebra fish (Danio rerio), brine shrimp (Artemia salina) and the protozoan Nassula sorex. Responses included: clonus convulsions and abnormal spinal axis formation (D. rerio), loss of phototaxis (A. salina) and mortalities (all species). These systems offer potential to further understand BMAA toxicity and the bioaccumulation and fates of BMAA in aquatic food chains leading to potential human exposure.
Subject(s)
Amino Acids, Diamino/toxicity , Behavior, Animal/drug effects , Cyanobacteria/chemistry , Neurotoxicity Syndromes/etiology , Neurotoxins/toxicity , Animals , Artemia , Cyanobacteria Toxins , Disease Models, Animal , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic/chemically induced , Photosensitivity Disorders/chemically induced , Procyonidae , Spinal Cord Diseases/chemically induced , Time Factors , ZebrafishABSTRACT
Cyanobacteria produce a wide range of potent toxins, including hepatotoxic microcystins. HPLC methods for microcystin analysis and purification almost invariably include acetonitrile in the elution gradient mobile phase. The recent, acute, global acetonitrile shortage requires that adequate methods are available for microcystin analysis and purification without the need for acetonitrile. Here we present a convenient methanol-based method for effective HPLC analysis and purification of the toxins, with full separation of a range of microcystin variants.
