Facile detection of anatoxin-a in algal material by thin-layer chromatography with Fast Black K salt.
A method for facile high-capacity screening of algal samples for anatoxin-a (ANTX-a), a potent neurotoxin of Anabaena flos-aquae, is presented. The method is based on in situ colour reaction of algal extracts containing ANTX-a on a thin-layer chromatographic plate with the diazonium reagent Fast Black K salt, and subsequent separation of the orange-red product. The product, shown to be a stable 3,3-dialkyltriazene, is derived from a reaction involving the aliphatic secondary amino group of ANTX-a. The detection limit for ANTX-a is 10 micrograms g-1 of lyophilized algal material, which is comparable to earlier methods using more complex instrumentation.
Ojanperä
I
I
Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Vuori
E
E
Himberg
K
K
Waris
M
M
Niinivaara
K
K
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer / Q000379:methods*; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000032:analysis*; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D003979:Diazonium Compounds; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000032:analysis*; D052998:Microcystins; D014326:Tropanes
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D003979:Diazonium Compounds; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008387:Marine Toxins; D052998:Microcystins; D014326:Tropanes; C056237:Fast Black K Salt; C509783:anatoxin a