title: Improved detection of β-N-methylamino-L-alanine using N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of N-butylnicotinic acid for the localization of BMAA in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis).
abstract: β-N-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is an important non-protein amino acid linked to neurodegenerative diseases, specifically amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Because it can be transferred and bioaccumulated higher up the food chain, it poses significant public health concerns; thus, improved detection methods are of prime importance for the identification and management of these toxins. Here, we report the successful use of N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of N-butylnicotinic acid (C4-NA-NHS) for the efficient separation of BMAA from its isomers and higher sensitivity in detecting BMAA compared to the current method of choice using 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate (AQC) derivatization. Implementation of this efficient method allowed localization of BMAA in the non-visceral tissues of blue mussels, suggesting that more efficient depuration may be required to remove this toxin prior to consumption. This is a crucial method in establishing the absence or presence of the neurotoxic amino acid BMAA in food, environmental or biomedical samples.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, 10691, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andrýs
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zurita
authors.forename: Nadezda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zguna
authors.forename: Klaas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Verschueren
authors.forename: Wim M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: De Borggraeve
authors.forename: Leopold L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Ilag
mesh_terms: D000599:Amino Acids, Diamino / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D004951:Esterification; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D049880:Mytilus edulis / Q000737:chemistry*; D009539:Nicotinic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D017747:Seafood; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013388:Succinimides / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000599:Amino Acids, Diamino; D000087522:Cyanobacteria Toxins; D009539:Nicotinic Acids; D013388:Succinimides; C001824:beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine; C029162:butyl nicotinate; C001426:N-hydroxysuccinimide