title: A colorimetric technique for detecting trichothecenes and assessing relative potencies.
abstract: We tested a novel colorimetric toxicity test, based on inhibition of beta-galactosidase activity in the yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus, for sensitivity to a range of mycotoxins. A variety of trichothecene mycotoxins could be detected. The order of toxicity established with this bioassay was verrucarin A > roridin A > T-2 toxin > diacetoxyscirpenol > HT-2 toxin > acetyl T-2 toxin > neosolaniol > fusarenon X > T-2 triol > scirpentriol > nivalenol > deoxynivalenol > T-2 tetraol. The sensitivity of detection was high, with the most potent trichothecene tested, verrucarin A, having a 50% effective concentration (concentration of toxin causing 50% inhibition) of 2 ng/ml. Other mycotoxins (cyclopiazonic acid, fumonisin B1, ochratoxin A, patulin, sterigmatocystin, tenuazonic acid, and zearalenone) could not be detected at up to 10 micrograms/ml, nor could aflatoxins B1 and M1 be detected at concentrations up to 25 micrograms/ml. This test should be useful for trichothecene detection and for studies of relevant interactions-both between trichothecenes themselves and between trichothecenes and other food constituents.
authors.affiliation: University of Greenwich, Woolwich, London, SE18 6PF, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Engler
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Coker
authors.forename: I H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003124:Colorimetry / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D007716:Kluyveromyces / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014255:Trichothecenes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D014255:Trichothecenes; D001616:beta-Galactosidase