title: Chemistry and biological activity of AAL toxins.
abstract: AAL toxins and fumonisins comprise a family of highly reactive, chemically related mycotoxins that disrupt cellular homeostasis in both plant and animal tissues. Two critical issues to resolve are the detection of the entire family in food matricies and the mode of cellular disruption. Analysis of the entire set of chemical congeners in food matrices is difficult but has been achieved by a combination of different HPLC and mass spectrometry strategies. The mode of cellular disruption is unknown but likely involves changes associated with the inhibition of ceramide synthase in both plants and animals. Toxin treated cells exhibit morphological and biochemical changes characteristic of apoptosis. Further evaluation of the specific genetic and biochemical changes that occur during toxin-induced cell death may aid in understanding the mole of the action of these mycotoxins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Gilchrist
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Dickman
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000528:Alternaria / Q000378:metabolism; D000581:Amidohydrolases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death; D055572:Ceramidases; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010935:Plant Diseases
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009183:Mycotoxins; D000581:Amidohydrolases; D055572:Ceramidases