title: Ecotoxicological survey of MNEI and Y65R-MNEI proteins as new potential high-intensity sweeteners.
abstract: Low-calorie sweeteners are widespread. They are routinely introduced into commonly consumed food such as diet sodas, cereals, and sugar-free desserts. Recent data revealed the presence in considerable quantities of some of these artificial sweeteners in water samples qualifying them as a class of potential new emerging contaminants. This study aimed at evaluating the ecotoxicity profile of MNEI and Y65R-MNEI, two engineered products derived from the natural protein monellin, employing representative test organism such as Daphnia magna, Ceriodaphnia dubia, and Raphidocelis subcapitata. Potential genotoxicity and mutagenicity effects on Salmonella typhimurium (strain TA97a, TA98, TA100, and TA1535) and Escherichia coli (strain WP2 pkM101) were evaluated. No genotoxicity effects were detected, whereas slight mutagenicity was highlighted by TA98 S. typhimurium. Ecotoxicity results evidenced effects approximately up to 14 and 20% with microalgae at 500 mg/L of MNEI and Y65R-MNEI, in that order. Macrophytes and crustaceans showed no significant effects. No median effective concentrations were determined. Overall, MNEI and Y65R-MNEI can be classified as not acutely toxic for the environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Cinthia Complesso Monte Sant'Angelo, 80126, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele Fortunato
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Rega
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Cinthia Complesso Monte Sant'Angelo, 80126, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siciliano
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Cinthia Complesso Monte Sant'Angelo, 80126, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gesuele
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biology "A. Zambelli", University of Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy.
authors.forename: Giusy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lofrano
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Cinthia Complesso Monte Sant'Angelo, 80126, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carpentieri
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Cinthia Complesso Monte Sant'Angelo, 80126, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Picone
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Cinthia Complesso Monte Sant'Angelo, 80126, Naples, Italy. marco.guida@unina.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guida
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D054750:Ecotoxicology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens; D064306:Non-Nutritive Sweeteners; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000235:genetics; D013549:Sweetening Agents
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens; D064306:Non-Nutritive Sweeteners; D013549:Sweetening Agents
keywords: Genotoxicity; High-intensity sweeteners; MNEI; Mutagenicity; Sweet proteins; Toxicity; Y65R-MNEI