Bernd Luckas

Characteristic chlorinated hydrocarbon patterns in the blubber of seals from different marine regions.

Abstract Samples of seal blubber from several marine regions (Arctic, Iceland, North Sea, Baltic, and Antarctic) were analysed for chlorinated hydrocarbon contamination. Varying concentrations of organochlorine compounds (PCB, DDT and its metabolites, HCB, and HCH-isomeres) lead to characteristic residue patterns. Evaluation of the data demonstrated significant geographical differences in both level and pattern of the contaminants analyzed, thus giving an insight into the global distribution of organochlorine pollution.

LC–MS/MS determination of the isomeric neurotoxins BMAA (β-N-methylamino-l-alanine) and DAB (2,4-diaminobutyric acid) in cyanobacteria and seeds of Cycas revoluta and Lathyrus latifolius

Since diverse taxa of cyanobacteria has been linked to biosynthesis of BMAA, a controversy has arisen about the detection of neurotoxic amino acids in cyanobacteria. In this context, a novel LC-MS/MS method was developed for the unambiguous determination of beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DAB) in cyanobacteria and selected plant seeds. Both neurotoxic and non-proteinogenic amino acids were analyzed without derivatization considering the total concentration of the free and protein-bound form. The investigation of overall 62 cyanobacterial samples of worldwide origin by application of this method revealed the absence of BMAA, whereas seeds of Cycas revoluta contained 6.96 microg g(-1) of free BMAA. In contrast, the isomer DAB was confirmed in 16 cyanobacterial samples in concentrations of 0.07-0.83 microg g(-1),whereof one sample is distributed as nutritional supplement. In addition, seeds of Lathyrus latifolius contained 4.21 microg g(-1) of free DAB. Limits of detection were for BMAA<1.0 microg g(-1) in the cyanobacterial matrix and<0.14 microg g(-1) in angiosperm seeds. DAB exhibits higher sensitivities of <0.06 microg g(-1) in cyanobacteria and <0.008 microg g(-1) in angiosperm seeds. The highly specific analysis method with increased detection sensitivity eliminates the disadvantages of derivatization-based methods to be discussed.

A Recent Shellfish Toxin Investigation in China

A shellfish toxin investigation along the Chinese coast has recently been conducted using both HPLC and mouse assay methods. The results showed that DSP was widely distributed in different shellfish species in China. 26 out of 89 samples had DTX1 (dinophysistoxin-1) or OA (okadaic acid) but the DSP content in most shellfish samples did not reach the regulatory limit for human consumption adopted in many countries (20 mu g/100 g soft tissue). PSP was also found in 5 out of 96 samples along the coast. One sample, Chlamys nobilis from Hong Kong contained high levels of PSP (320 mu g STX equivalent/100 g soft tissue), compared to the regulatory limit (80 mu g STX equivalent/100 g soft tissue). After the recent outbreak of red tide in Hong Kong waters, three further shellfish samples were collected within 40 days to investigate the impacts of this event, It was shown that high levels of PSP continued to exist in Hong Kong waters. This report provides the first report of DSP and PSP distribution along the Chinese coast

Human and rat hepatocyte toxicity and protein phosphatase 1 and 2A inhibitory activity of naturally occurring desmethyl-microcystins and nodularins.

Contamination of water, foods and food supplements by various genera of cyanobacteria is a serious health problem worldwide for humans and animals, largely due to the toxic effects of microcystins (MCs) and nodularin (NOD), a group of hepatotoxic cyclic peptides. The toxins occur in variable structures resulting in more than 90 different MCs and 8 different NODs, many of them not having been investigated for their toxic potency. Potent MCs such as MC-LR have been shown to elicit their hepatotoxic potency via inhibition of hepatic protein phosphatases (PP) 1 and 2A leading to over-phosphorylation of vital cellular proteins. This mechanism of action is also thought to be responsible for the long term tumor promoting action of certain MCs and NOD in the liver. Here, we report on the isolation of certain MCs and NOD as well as a number of their desmethylated derivatives from algae bloom. Subsequently, we determined the cytotoxicity of these compounds in isolated primary human and rat hepatocytes in culture. In parallel experiments, we analyzed the inhibitory potency of these congeners on PP1 and 2A using commercially available enzymes. We found in primary rat hepatocytes that MC-LR, -YR and NOD were cytotoxic, namely in the 10 to >50 nM range, while MC-RR was not. The desmethylated congeners of MC-LR, -YR, and NOD were equally or more-toxic as/than their fully methylated counterparts. In primary human hepatocytes we could show that MC-LR, NOD and the desmethylated variants [³Asp]MC-LR, [⁷Dha]MC-LR and [¹Asp]NOD were cytotoxic in the 20 to >600 nM range. Inhibition data with human, bovine and rabbit protein phosphatases 1 and 2A were roughly in accordance with the cytotoxicity findings in human and rat hepatocytes, i.e. desmethylation had no pronounced effects on the inhibitory potencies. Thus, a variety of naturally occurring desmethylated MC and NOD congeners have to be considered as being at least as toxic as the corresponding fully methylated derivatives.

Analysis of the characteristic PSP profiles ofPyrodinium bahamense and several strains ofAlexandrium by HPLC based on ion-pair chromatographic separation, post-column oxidation, and fluorescence detection

SummaryA sensitive HPLC method for determination of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) based on ion-pair chromatographic separation of PSP toxins, post-column oxidation with periodic acid, and fluorescence detection has been used to determine toxin profiles ofPyrodinium bahamense and several strains ofAlexandrium. The HPLC chromatograms revealed clear differences betweenPyrodinium bahamense andAlexandrium strains.

Characteristic profiles of Ciguatera toxins in different strains of Gambierdiscus spp.

Ciguatera fish poisoning characterizes the intoxication caused by consumption of fish from tropical and subtropical areas, which have accumulated ciguatoxins (CTXs). The observed pattern of ciguatoxins in fish highly depends on the marine region and the causative organisms. It is evident that differences exist between ciguatoxins produced by certain strains of the dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus toxicus and other Gambierdiscus spp. In this context cultured strains purchased from the Provasoli-Guillard National Center for Culture of Marine Phytoplankton (CCMP) and strains from Vietnam were analyzed. Besides, lyophilized samples of several Gambierdiscus spp. from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), USA and lyophilized samples of G. toxicus from Vietnam were analyzed. The latter has been cultured at different salinities. We observed differences between the toxin ratios of the analogues in the strain from Vietnam depending on the salinity. The CTX profiles of the Vietnamese samples were compared with cultures of Gambierdiscus spp. from CCMP and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) resulting in an overview of toxins in cultures from different regions. Hence, it was obvious that the strain from Vietnam forms a characteristic CTX profile which is not directly comparable to CTX pattern observed in other tropical marine regions.

Determination of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins by high-performance ion-exchange chromatography

An efficient LC method has been developed for the determination of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins based on ion-exchange chromatographic separation of the toxins followed by electrochemical post-column oxidation and fluorescence detection as well as mass spectrometric (MS) detection. The method can be applied to the determination of PSP toxins in phytoplankton and to control seafood for PSP content.

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry identification of microcystins in Microcystis aeruginosa strain from lake Thanh Cong, Hanoi, Vietnam

SummaryVarious microcystins (MCs) were isolated from extracts ofMicrocystis aeruginosa grown in lake Thang Cong, Hanoi, Vietnam.MC-RR, MC-YR, and MC-WR were determined by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (LC-MS). Besides these major microcystins five minor compounds were identified as microcystins using fragmentation mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). Two minor compounds were identified as desmethyl variants of MC-WR and MC-RR, respectively, and a third as an MC-LR variant. Two components showed characteristic fragmentation profiles of MC but could not be characterised exactly owing to their low concentrations. Three other components (900–1100 dalton) proved not to be microcystins.

Congener specific determination of compounds of technical toxaphene (CTTs) in different antarctic seal species

SummaryGas chromatography and electron-capture, negative-ionization, mass spectrometry (GC-ECNI-MS) in combination with a non-polar stationary phase (CP-Sil 2) was applied to study the composition of residues of the multicomponent toxaphene mixture in seal blubber from the Antarctic. In samples of the five Antarctic seal species eleven compounds of technical toxaphene (CTTs) were detected and six of them quantified by application of single standard compounds. Five abundant CTTs in seal blubber were included in the “Parlar 22 components standard” (commercially available) and one further was isolated and quantified for the first time. Finally, high levels of toxaphene were determined in Weddell seals and crabeaters confirming that toxaphene is a major organochlorine pollutant in the Antarctic.

Fast and effective sample preparation for determination of organochlorine compounds in fatty tissue of marine mammals using microwave extraction

SummaryA rapid and effective method is described for the extraction of organochlorine compounds (PCB 153, PCB 138, PCB 180, p,p′-DDE, α-HCH, γ-HCH, ε-HCH and HCB) from seal blubber and pork fat withn-hexane using a microwave technique. Heating of the non-polarn-hexane was achieved using a microwave transformer. The lipid content of the samples obtained by this extraction was identical to that by Soxhlet extraction. After separation of sample matrix and organochlorines on a silica gel column the organochlorine compounds were determined by GC-ECD. The efficiency of the method was tested with 500 mg spiked fat, extracted using various numbers of extraction cycles. Recoveries of organochlorine compounds in grey seal blubber and spiked pork fat generally exceeded 90 %.