László Tölgyesi

Detection and characterization of twenty-eight isomers of fumonisin B1 (FB1) mycotoxin in a solid rice culture infected with Fusarium verticillioides by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization time-of-flight and ion trap mass spectrometry

Fumonisin mycotoxins which are hazardous to humans and animals were produced in a Fusarium verticillioides-infected solid rice culture. To decrease the possibility of the formation of artifacts, the fumonisins were analysed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization time-of-flight (RP-HPLC/ESI-TOFMS) and ion trap mass spectrometry (RP-HPLC/ESI-ITMS) immediately after the extraction of the culture material, without any further sample clean-up. The fumonisin isomers were separated by using a flat gradient on a special, high-coverage C(18), narrow-bore HPLC column (YMC-Pack Jsphere ODS H80) suggested for the separation of structural isomers by the manufacturer. Exact mass measurements (TOFMS) of the protonated molecules and extraction of the ion chromatogram corresponding to the empirical formula (C(34)H(59)NO(15)) of FB(1) toxins led to the identification of 29 peaks and shoulders, including those of FB(1). The FB(1) toxin and 28 of its isomers were also detected by ITMS after separation with RP-HPLC. The characteristic m/z values of the product ions, including the backbones obtained by ITMS(2), undoubtedly indicated the structures of the FB(1) isomers for 28 peaks and shoulders. In the MS(2) spectra of the protonated molecules of the FB(1) isomers, with some exceptions, 15 characteristic product ions including the hydrocarbon backbone at m/z 299 were observed. The abundance ratio of the cation at m/z 299 ranged up to 5.8%. The relative quantities of the isomers found in the sample extract were expressed as percentages of the FB(1) content (0.001-0.579%). The total amount of the 28 FB(1) isomers was 2.803% of the quantity of FB(1) that is important from the aspect of food and feed safety.

Quantitative determination of corticosteroids in bovine milk using mixed-mode polymeric strong cation exchange solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A new method was developed to identify and quantify corticosteroids (prednisolone, methylprednisone, flumetasone, dexamethasone, and methylprednisolone) in raw bovine milk by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) utilizing mixed-mode polymeric strong cation exchange and reversed-phase (MCX) solid-phase extraction (SPE) to reduce ion effects in a multimode ion (MMI) source. The main advantage of this method over other commonly used methods includes the use of a single SPE cartridge with a low volume for sample preparation and fast separation on the HPLC system with reduced ion suppression. This study is the first to report the determination of methylprednisone, a metabolite of methylprednisolone, in bovine milk. This method was validated in accordance with the European Union (EU) Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The recoveries vary between 90% and 105%. The within-laboratory reproducibility (precision) is less than 30%. The decision limits and detection capabilities were calculated along with LODs, which ranged from 0.02 to 0.07 microg/kg. The method was further enhanced by its successful adaptation to other LC-MS/MS systems equipped with the newly developed ion source, Agilent Jet Stream (AJS). After optimization of the AJS ion source and MS parameters, even lower LOD values were achieved (0.001-0.006 microg/kg) for the corticosteroids. Analytical results obtained with the AJS were characterized by an enhanced area response and similar noise level comparable to those obtained with conventional orthogonal atmospheric ionization (API).

Identification of the first fumonisin mycotoxins with three acyl groups by ESI-ITMS and ESI-TOFMS following RP-HPLC separation: palmitoyl, linoleoyl and oleoyl EFB1 fumonisin isomers from a solid culture of Fusarium verticillioides

The aim of this study was to apply RP-HPLC/ESI-ITMS and RP-HPLC/ESI-TOFMS to investigate and characterise six new higher molecular weight fumonisins (three pairs of isomers) extracted from a Fusarium verticillioides-infected solid rice culture. The ITMS and ITMS2 spectra clearly indicated the m/z values (960, 984 and 986) of the protonated molecules and the FB1 toxin-like structures of these compounds, respectively. Moreover, the data evaluation software of the TOFMS equipment unambiguously demonstrated the exact masses of the protonated molecules and the suggested empirical formulae (C50H89NO16, C52H89NO16 and C52H91NO16) of the new fumonisins, with mass accuracy in the range between 0.1 and −1.1 ppm. Subtraction of the empirical formula of FB1 toxin (C34H59NO15) from these formulae and correction for the mass of water split-off from the fumonisin molecule during ester formation resulted in the empirical formulae of the fumonisin backbone esterifying agents (fatty acids): C16H32O2 (palmitic acid, PA), C18H32O2 (linoleic acid, LA) and C18H34O2 (oleic acid, OA). We denoted the new compounds as esterified FB1 (EFB1) toxins, with the suggested names EFB1 PA, iso-EFB1 PA, EFB1 LA, iso-EFB1 LA, EFB1 OA and iso-EFB1 OA. The total amount of these new compounds comprised 0.1% of the FB1 concentration, which may be rated as significant when it is considered that these new components are significantly more apolar than earlier-described fumonisins, and their uptake into and toxicity elicited in the various tissues of living organisms may therefore also be significantly different from those of other fumonisins.

Detection of Previously Unknown Fumonisin P Analogue Mycotoxins in a Fusarium verticillioides Culture by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Electrospray Ionization Time-of-Flight and Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry

Five previously unknown fumonisin mycotoxins (iso-FP1, iso-FP(2,3a), iso-FP(2,3b), FP4 and iso-FP4) and three previously described FP analogues (FP(1-3)) were detected in a solid rice culture inoculated with Fusarium verticillioides. The fumonisins were characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-TOFMS) and ion trap mass spectrometry (ITMS). The FP isomers were separated by using a flat gradient on a special, high-coverage C18, narrow-bore HPLC column (YMC-Pack Jsphere ODS H80), which was suggested for the separation of structural isomers. The verified structures of the FP(1-3) mycotoxins, the relative retention times (by HPLC-ESI-TOFMS and ITMS), the exact masses of the molecular ions (by TOFMS) and the masses of the product ions, including the hydrocarbon backbones (by ITMS) of the new compounds, strongly suggested their structures.

IDENTIFICATION OF UNKNOWN ISOMERS OF FUMONISIN B5 MYCOTOXIN IN A FUSARIUM VERTICILLIOIDES CULTURE BY HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY/ELECTROSPRAY IONIZATION TIME-OF-FLIGHT AND ION TRAP MASS SPECTROMETRY

Several new fumonisin B5 mycotoxin isomers (iso-FB5) present in a rice culture inoculated with Fusarium verticillioides were separated on a RP-HPLC column recommended for the separation of structural isomers, and subsequently detected by time-of-flight and ion trap mass spectrometry. The exact masses of the eluted compounds were determined by using time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The m/z values of the 20 characteristic product ions including the hydrocarbon backbone and the characteristic neutral mass losses from the molecular and product ions of the compounds obtained by ion trap mass spectrometry, unambiguously indicated of the unknown iso-FB5 compounds. The total amount of FB5 toxin and its isomers was 0.9% of the quantity of the main compound (FB1 toxin), which is a noteworthy quantity considering their potential toxicity. Based on the semi-quantitative measurement data it can be assumed that, in addition to the FB5 of unknown structure, isomers designated 1, 2, and 20 can also be isolated among the iso-FB5 compounds.