Simplified Synthesis and Stability Assessment of Aflatoxin B1-Lysine and Aflatoxin G1-Lysine.

Aflatoxins B1 (AFB1) and G1 (AFG1) are carcinogenic mycotoxins that contaminate crops such as maize and groundnuts worldwide. The broadly accepted method to assess chronic human aflatoxin exposure is by quantifying the amount of aflatoxin adducted to human serum albumin. This has been reported using ELISA, HPLC, or LC-MS/MS to measure the amount of AFB1-lysine released after proteolysis of serum albumin. LC-MS/MS is the most accurate method but requires both isotopically labelled and unlabelled AFB1-lysine standards, which are not commercially available. In this work, we report a simplified synthetic route to produce unlabelled, deuterated and 13C6 15N2 labelled aflatoxin B1-lysine and for the first-time aflatoxin G1-lysine. Additionally, we report on the stability of these compounds during storage. This simplified synthetic approach will make the production of these important standards more feasible for laboratories performing aflatoxin exposure studies.

Synthesis and characterization of mercapturic acid (N-acetyl-L-cysteine)-aflatoxin B1 adduct and its quantitation in rat urine by an enzyme immunoassay.

A simple and sensitive indirect noncompetitive enzyme immunoassay to quantitate mercapturic acid-aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) adduct in rat urine is reported. A novel procedure was developed for in vitro synthesis of an immunogen, bovine serum albumen-glutathione-aflatoxin B1 (BSA-GSH-AFB1) using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride. Sulphydryl group's analysis confirmed the conjugation of-SH groups to AFB1. Thin-layer chromatography and spectral analysis (absorption, fluorescence, and Fourier transform infrared) of the conjugates further confirmed the formation of the adducts. Polyclonal antibodies specific to mercapturic acid-AFB1 adduct were produced against BSA-GSH-AFB1. The assay was found to be linear in the range of 100 pg-100 ng of the analyte (y = a + bx). A 50% displacement of BSA-GSH-AFB1 antibodies was achieved at an inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 11.9 ng GSH-AFB1 (r2 = 0.98) and 1.22 ng N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC)-AFB1 (r2 = 0.98). Spiking 5 microg/mL of reference standard to the control rat urine showed a recovery of 98 +/- 2%. The immunoassay was validated in a rodent model exposed to a single oral dose of 1 mg/kg body mass of pure AFB1. The excretion of NAC-AFB1 adduct was quantitated at the end of 24 h. The concentration of the NAC-AFB1 adduct excreted in urine as determined by the immunoassay was found to be in the range of 3.22-5.97 microg/mg creatinine. The present method may find wide application as a biochemical tool in molecular epidemiological and intervention studies with respect to human exposure to dietary aflatoxins.

Palladium catalyzed kinetic and dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformations of gamma-acyloxybutenolides. Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-Aflatoxin B1 and B2a.

The reaction of gamma-tert-butoxycarbonyloxy-2-butenolide with phenol nucleophiles in the presence of a Pd(0) complex with chiral ligands may be performed under conditions that favor either a kinetic resolution or a kinetic asymmetric transformation (KAT) or dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation (DYKAT). Performing the reaction at high concentration (0.5 M) in the presence of a carbonate base favors the former, i.e., KAT; whereas, running the reaction at 0.1M in the presence of tetra-n-butylammonium chloride favors the DYKAT process. Syntheses of aflatoxin B(1) and B(2a) employs the DYKAT to introduce the stereochemistry. Starting with Pechmann condensation of the monomethyl ether of phloroglucinol, the requisite phenol nucleophile is constructed in two steps. The DYKAT proceeds with > 95% ee. A reductive Heck cyclization followed by a lanthanide catalyzed intramolecular acylation completes the synthesis of the pentacyclic nucleus in 3 steps. Reduction of the lactone provides aflatoxin B(2a) and its dehydration product B(1). This synthetic strategy creates an asymmetric synthesis of the former in only 7 steps and the latter in 9 steps. Thus, the ultimate synthetic sequence involves 3 + 5 --> 39 --> 40 --> 42 --> 43 --> 46 --> 47 --> 48 (aflatoxin B(2a)) --> 49 (aflatoxin B(1)).

Structure of the aflatoxin B(1) dialdehyde adduct formed from reaction with methylamine.

Amine conjugates of activated aflatoxin (AF) B(1) are formed in various systems, e.g., buffer amines and with protein lysine groups. Structures have been published in the literature, but the evidence is indirect in that (i) halogenated AFB(1) was usually used as the precursor and (ii) the assignment of the structure of the five-membered ring formed by cyclization is based on NMR chemical shifts. To better define these adducts and distinguish among several possibilities, we synthesized AFB(1) dialdehyde and reacted this with the surrogate methylamine at neutral pH, to simplify the system. The isolated product had the expected molecular ion (mass spectrometry) and showed pH-dependent UV spectra similar to those published for a lysine conjugate. Nuclear Overhauser enhanced spectroscopy (two-dimensional NMR, 800 MHz) of the sample (2H(2)O) showed proximity of the N-CH(3) protons only with a singlet at delta 4.10, assigned to the methylene of the added five-membered ring, but not to a delta 6.53 singlet assigned as the vinylic proton of that ring. All protons in the coumarin-furanone portion of the system were correlated to each other but not to those in the added five-membered ring. These experiments establish the structure as 2,3-dihydro-2-oxo-4-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-7-hydroxy-9-methoxy-3,4-dioxocyclopenta[c][1]benzopyran-6-yl)-1H-pyrrole-1-methane. The similarity of the reaction to that occurring in the reaction of AFB(1) dialdehyde with lysine and the agreement of the UV spectra suggest that this structure is applicable for the lysine analogue. The NMR results support the possible structure B of Sabbioni et al. [Sabbioni, G., Skipper, P. L., Buchi, G., and Tannenbaum, S. R. (1987) Carcinogenesis 8, 819-824] and the proposed structure 8 of Sabbioni [Sabbioni, G. (1990) Chem.-Biol. Interact. 75, 1-15] but not alternative proposals. Kinetic and mechanistic considerations of the reaction of lysine with AFB(1) dialdehyde are presented in the previous article in this issue [Guengerich, F. P., Arneson, K. O., Williams, K. M., Deng, Z., and Harris, T. M. (2002) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 15, 780-793].

Cytotoxicity of aflatoxin B1 and its chemically synthesised epoxide derivative on the A549 human epithelioid lung cell line.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1 ) is a carcinogenic mycotoxin found in feeds and in airborne grain dusts. Aflatoxin B1 requires biotransformation to the AFB1-8,9 epoxide (AFBO) by a bioactivation system and subsequent covalent binding to DNA or proteins, to exert its carcinogenic potential. The lung contains cytochrome P450, prostaglandin-H-synthase, lipoxygenase, epoxide hydrolase and other bioactivation enzymes, and is thus a potential target for the effects of AFB1 via the routes of inhalation and ingestion. The A549 human epithelioid lung cell line and the methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) bioassay were used to investigate the cytotoxicity of AFB1 and its chemically synthesised epoxide (AFBO) in vitro. Statistical analysis of the MTT results indicated that there were overall significant differences between the control and both the AFB1-treated (p < 0.0001) and AFBO-treated cells (p = 0.002). However, there was no significant difference between AFB1 and AFBO-treated cells, when the entire range of concentrations were assessed against each other (p = 0.2877). When analysed at each concentration, only at 0.01 mM was there a significant difference between the effects of AFB1 and AFBO (p = 0.0358). The results of this investigation show that AFB1 and AFBO are both cytotoxic in the A549 cell line.

Replication of a site-specific trans-8,9-dihydro-8-(N7-guanyl)-9-hydroxyaflatoxin B(1) adduct by the exonuclease deficient klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I.

A 19-mer oligodeoxynucleotide containing a site-specific trans-8, 9-dihydro-8-(N7-guanyl)-9-hydroxyaflatoxin B(1) adduct was prepared and purified. This was used as a template for replication with DNA polymerase I exo(-) (Klenow exo(-)) in vitro. The chemical stability of the modified template strand containing the cationic aflatoxin B(1) adduct was monitored by mass spectrometry. Under the conditions used in these assays, the cationic aflatoxin B(1) adduct remained intact; quantitative conversion to the corresponding formamidopyrimidine adduct was not observed. The results revealed that the cationic guanine AFB(1) N7 adduct blocked translesional DNA synthesis at the adducted site and one nucleotide 3' to the adducted site. Correct incorporation of cytosine opposite the lesion led to blockage, while incorrect incorporation of adenine allowed full-length extension. The in vitro experiments with polymerase I yielded base pair substitutions at the lesion site but not the 5'-neighbor substitutions observed in vivo [Bailey, E. A., Iyer, R. S., Stone, M. P., Harris, T. M., and Essigmann, J. M. (1996) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 93, 1535-1539].

An intercalation inhibitor altering the target selectivity of DNA damaging agents: synthesis of site-specific aflatoxin B1 adducts in a p53 mutational hotspot.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a potent human carcinogen implicated in the etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma. Upon metabolic activation to the reactive epoxide, AFB1 forms DNA adducts primarily at the N7 position of guanines. To elucidate more fully the molecular mechanism of AFB1-induced mutagenesis, an intercalation inhibitor was designed to probe the effects of intercalation by AFB1 epoxide on its reaction with DNA. DNA duplexes were prepared consisting of a target strand containing multiple potentially reactive guanines and a nontarget strand containing a cis-syn thymidine-benzofuran photoproduct. Because the covalently linked benzofuran moiety physically occupies an intercalation site, we reasoned that such a site would be rendered inaccessible to AFB1 epoxide. By strategic positioning of this intercalation inhibitor in the intercalation site 5' to a specific guanine, the adduct yield at that site was greatly diminished, indicating that intercalation by AFB1 epoxide contributes favorably to adduct formation. Using this approach it has been possible to simplify the production of site-specifically modified oligonucleotides containing AFB1 adducts in the sequence context of a p53 mutational hotspot. Moreover, we report herein isolation of site-specifically AFB1-modified oligonucleotides in sequences containing multiple guanines. Use of intercalation inhibitors will facilitate both investigation of the ability of other carcinogens to intercalate into DNA and the synthesis of specific carcinogen-DNA adducts.

Direct synthesis of aflatoxin B1-N7 guanine adduct: a reference standard for biological monitoring of dietary aflatoxin exposure in molecular epidemiological studies.

Aflatoxin B1-N7-guanine and aflatoxin B1-human serum albumin adducts have been established as biomarkers of dietary aflatoxin exposure in epidemiological studies. Earlier chemical oxidants were used to synthesize aflatoxin B1-8,9-epoxide in vitro and its subsequent interaction with DNA or synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide was used as a source of authentic aflatoxin B1-N7-guanine adduct. In the present communication we report a simple single step procedure for the synthesis of aflatoxin B1-N7-guanine adduct using free guanine and m-chloroperbenzoic acid as the chemical oxidant for the production of AFB1-8,9-epoxide. At a molar ratio of 1:1 of AFB1-8,9-epoxide and guanine the recovery of the AFB1-N7-guanine adduct was found to be 60% while at higher molar ratios (1:2 and 1:4) of guanine the recovery of the AFB1-N7-guanine adduct was found to be low (30-40%). HPLC analysis of the AFB1-N7 guanine adduct showed a retention time identical with the retention time of the AFB1-N7-guanine adduct synthesized using calf thymus DNA. TLC-fluorodensitometric analysis indicated that the Rf of the AFB1-N7-guanine adduct was zero. Spectral analysis of the adduct synthesized showed an excitation wavelength of 360 nm and emission wavelength at 440 nm in phosphate buffer (100 mM, pH 7.4). Further, the formation of the AFB1-N7-guanine adduct was confirmed by perchloric acid treatment resulting in the destruction of the adduct. The AFB1-N7-guanine adduct thus synthesized was stable in both acidic as well as lyophilized conditions over a period of 2 weeks. The antibody capture assay showed that the antibodies produced against the antigen BSA-guanine-N7-AFB1 also cross-reacted with calf thymus DNA-AFB1 adduct, indicating specificity to the guanine-N7-AFB1 moiety. The method developed may find immediate application as a source of authentic reference standard in molecular epidemiological studies.

Effect of aflatoxin B1-8,9-epoxide-DNA adducts on transcription of a supF gene fragment.

A linearized template, obtained from the vector pGEM-3Zf(+) containing a supF gene fragment, was treated with aflatoxin B1-8,9-epoxide (AFB1 epoxide) and transcription in vitro was then studied. The template functions of both strands of the supF gene were similarly inhibited as shown by transcription with both T7 and SP6 RNA polymerases. This inhibition was dose-dependent and affected the elongation step more extensively than the initiation step. Gel electrophoretic analysis of RNA formed by T7 RNA polymerase indicated that template treated with different AFB1 epoxide doses yielded the same three major truncated RNA fragments. Sequence analysis showed that these major sites of RNA truncation occurred in the vicinity of adjacent guanine residues in the template.

Preparation of aflatoxin B1 8,9-epoxide using m-chloroperbenzoic acid.

Aflatoxin B1 is a potent carcinogen which requires activation in order to react with DNA. The exo-8,9-epoxide is putatively the active form although it has thus far eluded direct detection in biological systems. This laboratory has reported a synthesis of the epoxide using dimethyldioxirane as the oxidant [(1988) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 110, 7929-7931]. A new, very convenient synthesis is described herein in which m-chloroperbenzoic acid is used as the oxidant in a two-phase system. The reaction is carried out in CH2Cl2 in contact with an aqueous phosphate buffer (pH 7.2) to remove the byproduct m-chlorobenzoic acid, which would otherwise react with the epoxide. Excess m-chloroperbenzoic acid is removed with aqueous sodium thiosulfate.

Glutathione conjugation of aflatoxin B1 exo- and endo-epoxides by rat and human glutathione S-transferases.

Much evidence supports the view that the rate of conjugation of glutathione (GSH) with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) exo-epoxide is an important factor in determining the species variation in risk to aflatoxins and that induction of GSH S-transferases can yield a significant protective effect. An assay has been developed in which the enzymatic formation of the conjugates of GSH and AFB1 exo-epoxide and the recently described AFB1 endo-epoxide is measured directly. 1H NMR spectra are reported for both the AFB1 exo- and endo-epoxide-GSH conjugates. Structural assignments were made by comparison with AFB1 exo- and endo-epoxide-ethanethiol conjugates, for which nuclear Overhauser effects were measured to establish relative configurations. The endo-epoxide was found to be a good substrate for GSH conjugate formation in rat liver cytosol while mouse liver cytosol conjugated the exo-epoxide almost exclusively. Human liver cytosol conjugated both epoxide isomers to much lower extents than did cytosols prepared from rats or mice. Purified rat GSH S-transferases catalyzed the formation of the AFB1 exo-epoxide-GSH conjugate in the order 1-1 approximately 4-4 approximately 3-3 greater than 2-2 greater than 4-6 (7-7 and 8-8 did not form the exo-epoxide-GSH conjugate at levels above the nonenzymatic rate). The only rat GSH S-transferases that conjugated the endo-epoxide were 4-4 and 4-6, with 4-4 being the more active.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)