title: Aptamer-based molecular recognition of lysergamine, metergoline and small ergot alkaloids.
abstract: Ergot alkaloids are mycotoxins produced by fungi of the genus Claviceps, which infect cereal crops and grasses. The uptake of ergot alkaloid contaminated cereal products can be lethal to humans and animals. For food safety assessment, analytical techniques are currently used to determine the presence of ergot alkaloids in food and feed samples. However, the number of samples which can be analyzed is limited, due to the cost of the equipment and the need for skilled personnel. In order to compensate for the lack of rapid tests for the detection of ergot alkaloids, the aim of this study was to develop a specific recognition element for ergot alkaloids, which could be further applied to produce a colorimetric reaction in the presence of these toxins. As recognition elements,  single-stranded DNA ligands were selected by using an iterative selection procedure named SELEX, i.e., Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment. After several selection cycles, the resulting aptamers were cloned and sequenced. A surface plasmon resonance analysis enabled determination of the dissociation constants of the complexes of aptamers and lysergamine. Dissociation constants in the nanomolar range were obtained with three selected aptamers. One of the selected aptamers, having a dissociation constant of 44 nM, was linked to gold nanoparticles and it was possible to produce a colorimetric reaction in the presence of lysergamine. This system could also be applied to small ergot alkaloids in an ergot contaminated flour sample.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research (SPHERE), Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, Antwerp B-2020, Belgium. elsa.rouah-martin@ua.ac.be.
authors.forename: Elsa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rouah-Martin
authors.forename: Jaytry
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: Bieke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van Dorst
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Saeger
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dubruel
authors.forename: Bert U W
authors.initials: BU
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lemiere
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goormaghtigh
authors.forename: Devin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Daems
authors.forename: Wouter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Herrebout
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van Hove
authors.forename: Ronny
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blust
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robbens
mesh_terms: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000737:chemistry*; D002523:Edible Grain / Q000737:chemistry*; D004876:Ergot Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis*; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D008711:Metergoline / Q000032:analysis*; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D004876:Ergot Alkaloids; D009183:Mycotoxins; D008711:Metergoline; D006046:Gold