title: Azaspiracid: first evidence of protein binding in shellfish.
abstract: The occurrence of azaspiracid (AZA) toxins in contaminated shellfish has been the focus of much research. The present study investigated the binding properties of these toxins in mussels of the species Mytilus edulis. The work involved extraction of proteins and AZAs from contaminated mussel hepatopancreas and examination of the extracts by isoelectric focusing (IEF), size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and sodium docecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry analysis (LC-MS/MS) was also performed in this study to identify AZAs. Blank mussels were subjected to the same purification and analytical procedures. AZAs were found to be weakly bound to a protein with a molecular weight of 45 kDa, in samples of contaminated mussels. This protein, which was abundant in contaminated mussels, was also present in blank mussels, albeit at much lower concentrations. It was further noted that a 22 kDa protein was also present only in contaminated mussel samples.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Agri-food and Land Use, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, David Keir Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AG, Northern Ireland, UK. ahou205@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Nzoughet
authors.forename: J T G
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Floyd
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Douglas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Devine
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000737:chemistry; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D005517:Foodborne Diseases; D043143:Hepatopancreas / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007525:Isoelectric Focusing; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D049880:Mytilus edulis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012758:Shellfish; D013141:Spiro Compounds / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D000095702:Polyether Toxins
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008387:Marine Toxins; D011506:Proteins; D013141:Spiro Compounds; C406592:azaspiracid; D000095702:Polyether Toxins