title: Direct detection using the Drosophila DNA-repair test and isolation of a DNA-damaging mycotoxin, 5,6-dihydropenicillic acid, in fungal culture.
abstract: The Drosophila DNA-repair test was used in an attempt to detect fungal production of DNA-damaging mycotoxins without an extraction process. 29 species of fungi, 13 Aspergillus, 12 Penicillium and four Fusarium were inoculated directly to a Drosophila medium, and the larvae were then bred in the mouldy medium. Production of DNA-damaging mycotoxin was detected directly by counting the decrease in the survival of DNA-repair-deficient flies. With the direct detection method, Aspergillus ochraceus, A. parasiticus and A. versicolor produced DNA-damaging mycotoxins. The same results were obtained with the mouldy medium extract using the standard DNA-repair test. The direct detection method was convenient for surveying the fungal production of DNA-damaging mycotoxins. The extracts of A. parasiticus and A. versicolor contained aflatoxin B1 and sterigmatocystin, respectively. The DNA-damaging compound in the extract of A. ochraceus was isolated and purified to clear, colourless 'needles'. With nuclear magnetic resonance-mass spectroscopy spectra, the compound was confirmed to be 5,6-dihydropenicillic acid, the DNA-damaging potency of which has not been previously reported.
authors.affiliation: Osaka Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Obana
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kumeda
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishimune
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Usami
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005670:Fusarium / Q000378:metabolism; D007814:Larva / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D010398:Penicillic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D010407:Penicillium / Q000378:metabolism; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D009183:Mycotoxins; C086336:5,6-dihydropenicillic acid; D010398:Penicillic Acid