title: Enzymatic spectrophotometric method for aflatoxin B detection based on acetylcholinesterase inhibition.
abstract: A new method for aflatoxin B (AFB) determination is proposed. The AFB determination is based on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition, and the AChE residual activity is determined using the colorimetric method (Ellman's method). Cholinesterases (ChEs) from various sources were tested using AFB1 as reference aflatoxin. AChE from electric eel has shown the highest sensitivity to AFB1, and it was chosen for the rest of the work. To select and optimize the analytical procedures, an investigation on the type of AChE inhibition by AFB1 was carried out. The AChE degree of inhibition by AFB1 was independent of the incubation time and the enzyme concentrations, showing the reversibility of the inhibition. This reversibility of the inhibition permits a rapid analysis of AFB1, requiring only 3 min. For the development of the AFB1 assay, the pH, the time of reaction, temperature, and substrate concentration were evaluated and optimized. The linear range of 10-60 ng mL-1 was determined. To evaluate the selectivity of this method, the cross-reactivity with other aflatoxins such as aflatoxin B2, aflatoxin G1, aflatoxin G2, and aflatoxin M1 was investigated. Finally, the suitability of the assay for AFB1 quantification in barley was evaluated. This study shows a new approach to detect aflatoxins based on enzyme inhibition and has advantages such as the ease of use, rapidity, and cost effectiveness. Thus, it could find a possible use as a screening method for this type of mycotoxins.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 1-00133 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arduini
authors.forename: Ilenia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Errico
authors.forename: Aziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amine
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Micheli
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palleschi
authors.forename: Danila
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moscone
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D016604:Aflatoxin B1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004593:Electrophorus; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D015394:Molecular Structure; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013053:Spectrophotometry / Q000379:methods; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D016604:Aflatoxin B1; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D000432:Methanol