FUMONISIN TOXICITY AND METABOLISM STUDIES AT THE USDA

Authors: Norred, William; Voss, Kenneth; Riley, Ronald; Plattner, Ronald

Submitted to: Proceedings of American Chemical Society National Meeting
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/26/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: BOOK CHAPTER - No Interpretive summary required.

Technical Abstract: Scientific, regulatory, and economic interest in the newly discovered fumonisins has increased. Primary fumonisin-producing fungi, Fusarium moniliforme and F. proliferatum, are common on corn worldwide and fumonisins are now known to cause fatal, sporadically-occurring animal diseases equine leukoencephalomalacia and porcine pulmonary edema. Fumonisins are liver cancer promotors and are carcinogenic in rats. Other evidence suggests they contribute to high human esophageal cancer rates of southern Africa, China, and northern Italy. Since 1985, our studies of F. moniliforme and fumonisins have contributed to the body of knowledge. Natural occurrance of fumonisins on toxic field corn was discovered, fumonisins were shown to cause liver and kidney toxicity in rats and mice, dose-response data were developed, and biodistribution/ excretion of fumonisin in rats was determined. Using various in vitro systems, inhibition of sphingolipid biosynthesis, conversion of sphinganine to ceramide, by fumonisin was first demonstrated; lack of overt cytotoxicity or genotoxicity by fumonisins was shown; and production of other bioactive, as yet unidentified compounds, by F. moniliforme has been demonstrated. Results of these and ongoing studies have implications for future studies of fumonisin toxicity; their effects on health, mechanism of action, and other related topics.