title: Teratogenicity of Ochratoxin A and the Degradation Product, Ochratoxin α, in the Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Embryo Model of Vertebrate Development.
abstract: Ochratoxins, and particularly ochratoxin A (OTA), are toxic fungal-derived contaminants of food and other agricultural products. Growing evidence supports the degradation of OTA by chemical, enzymatic and/or microbial means as a potential approach to remove this mycotoxin from food products. In particular, hydrolysis of OTA to ochratoxin α (OTα) and phenylalanine is the presumptive product of degradation in most cases. In the current study, we employed the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo, as a model of vertebrate development to evaluate, the teratogenicity of OTA and OTα. These studies show that OTA is potently active in the zebrafish embryo toxicity assay (ZETA), and that toxicity is both concentration- and time-dependent with discernible and quantifiable developmental toxicity observed at nanomolar concentrations. On the other hand, OTα had no significant effect on embryo development at all concentrations tested supporting a decreased toxicity of this degradation product. Taken together, these results suggest that ZETA is a useful, and highly sensitive, tool for evaluating OTA toxicity, as well as its degradation products, toward development of effective detoxification strategies. Specifically, the results obtained with ZETA, in the present study, further demonstrate the toxicity of OTA, and support its degradation via hydrolysis to OTα as an effective means of detoxification.
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151<sup>ST</sup> Street, North Miami, FL 33181, USA. mhaq001@fiu.edu.
authors: Mehreen
authors: M
authors: Haq
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151<sup>ST</sup> Street, North Miami, FL 33181, USA. ngonz040@fiu.edu.
authors: Nelson
authors: N
authors: Gonzalez
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151<sup>ST</sup> Street, North Miami, FL 33181, USA. kmint001@fiu.edu.
authors: Keenan
authors: K
authors: Mintz
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151<sup>ST</sup> Street, North Miami, FL 33181, USA. ajaja001@fiu.edu.
authors: Asha
authors: A
authors: Jaja-Chimedza
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151<sup>ST</sup> Street, North Miami, FL 33181, USA. cdeje003@fiu.edu.
authors: Christopher Lawrence
authors: CL
authors: De Jesus
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151<sup>ST</sup> Street, North Miami, FL 33181, USA. chlydo@fiu.edu.
authors: Christina
authors: C
authors: Lydon
authors: Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151<sup>ST</sup> Street, North Miami, FL 33181; USA. aawelch@fiu.edu.
authors: Aaron
authors: A
authors: Welch
authors: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151<sup>ST</sup> Street, North Miami, FL 33181, USA. berryj@fiu.edu.
authors: John P
authors: JP
authors: Berry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D009793:Ochratoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D013723:Teratogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D015027:Zebrafish
chemical_list: D009793:Ochratoxins; D013723:Teratogens; C025589:ochratoxin A
keywords: detoxification; mycotoxins; ochratoxin A; ochratoxin α; teratogenicity; zebrafish