Beta-N-methylamino-l-alanine: LC-MS/MS Optimization, Screening of Cyanobacterial Strains and Occurrence in Shellfish from Thau, a French Mediterranean Lagoon

Marine Drugs

Damien Réveillon²  Eric Abadie¹  Véronique Sຜhet²  Luc Brient³  Véronique Savar²  Michèle Bardouil²  Philipp Hess²  Zouher Amzil² 

[1] Ifremer (French Research Institute for the Exploitation of the Seas), Laboratoire Environnement Ressources du Languedoc Roussillon (LER-LR) F-34203 Sète, France; E-Mail:;Ifremer (French Research Institute for the Exploitation of the Seas), Phycotoxins Laboratory, rue de l’Ile d’Yeu, BP 21105, F-44311 Nantes, France; E-Mails:;UMR Eco-Bio-Université de Rennes I, F-35042 Rennes, France; E-Mail:

关键词: cyanotoxins;    BMAA;    DAB;    AEG;    HILIC-MS/MS;    cyanobacteria;    bivalve mollusks;    French Mediterranean;   

DOI  :  10.3390/md12115441

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) is a neurotoxic non-protein amino acid suggested to be involved in neurodegenerative diseases. It was reported to be produced by cyanobacteria, but also found in edible aquatic organisms, thus raising concern of a widespread human exposure. However, the chemical analysis of BMAA and its isomers are controversial, mainly due to the lack of selectivity of the analytical methods. Using factorial design, we have optimized the chromatographic separation of underivatized analogues by a hydrophilic interaction chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS/MS) method. A combination of an effective solid phase extraction (SPE) clean-up, appropriate chromatographic resolution and the use of specific mass spectral transitions allowed for the development of a highly selective and sensitive analytical procedure to identify and quantify BMAA and its isomers (in both free and total form) in cyanobacteria and mollusk matrices (LOQ of 0.225 and 0.15 µg/g dry weight, respectively). Ten species of cyanobacteria (six are reported to be BMAA producers) were screened with this method, and neither free nor bound BMAA could be found, while both free and bound DAB were present in almost all samples. Mussels and oysters collected in 2009 in the Thau Lagoon, France, were also screened, and bound BMAA and its two isomers, DAB and AEG, were observed in all samples (from 0.6 to 14.4 µg/g DW), while only several samples contained quantifiable free BMAA.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.