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Title: Extraction and analyses of fumonisins and compounds indicative of fumonisin exposure in plant and mammalian tissues and cultured cells

Author
item Zitomer, Nicholas
item Riley, Ronald

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/17/2010
Publication Date: 1/1/2011
Citation: Zitomer, N.C., Riley, R.T. 2011. Extraction and analyses of fumonisins and compounds indicative of fumonisin exposure in plant and mammalian tissues and cultured cells. In: Holst, O., editor. Microbial Toxins: Methods and Protocols. New York, NY: Humana Press. 739:171-185.

Interpretive Summary: Fumonisin mycotoxins are common contaminants in many grains, often at very low levels. Maize is particularly problematic as one of the organisms that commonly produces fumonisins, the fungus Fusarium verticillioides, often exists living within maize tissues. Fumonisin is a potent inhibitor of the enzyme ceramide synthase, and this inhibition results in the build up of a variety of compounds, most notably, a class of complex fats known as sphingoid bases. A method is described herein which provides a relatively fast means of extracting fumonisins, sphingoid bases and related compounds from tissues and cells, as well as the subsequent analyses and quantification of these compounds using an analytical chemistry technique known as liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

Technical Abstract: Fumonisin mycotoxins are common contaminants in many grains, often at very low levels. Maize is particularly problematic as one of the organisms that commonly produces fumonisins, the fungus Fusarium verticillioides, often exists living within maize tissues. Fumonisin is a potent inhibitor of the enzyme ceramide synthase, and this inhibition results in the build up of a variety of compounds, most notably, a class of complex fats known as sphingoid bases. A method is described herein which provides a relatively fast means of extracting fumonisins, sphingoid bases and related compounds from tissues and cells, as well as the subsequent analyses and quantification of these compounds using an analytical chemistry technique known as liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS).