Effects of Microenvironmental Changes on the Fluorescence Signal of Alternariol: Magnesium Induces Strong Enhancement in the Fluorescence of the Mycotoxin

Abstract

Alternariol (AOH) is an emerging mycotoxin produced by Alternaria molds. It occurs as a contaminant e.g., in oilseeds, cereals, grapes, and tomatoes. Chronic exposure to AOH may cause genotoxic and endocrine disruptor effects. Our recent studies demonstrated that the fluorescence signal of AOH can be strongly affected by the environmental pH as well as by the presence of serum albumin or cyclodextrins. In the current study, we aimed to characterize the most optimal circumstances regarding the highly sensitive fluorescent detection of AOH. Therefore, the further detailed investigation of the microenvironment on the fluorescence signal of the mycotoxin has been performed, including the effects of different buffers, organic solvents, detergents, and cations. Organic solvents (acetonitrile and methanol) caused only slight increase in the emission signal of AOH, while detergents (sodium dodecyl sulfate and Triton-X100) and Ca2+ induced considerably higher enhancement in the fluorescence of the mycotoxin. In addition, Mg2+ proved to be a superior fluorescence enhancer of the AOH. Spectroscopic and modeling studies suggest the formation of low-affinity AOH-Mg2+ complexes. The effect of Mg2+ was also tested in two HPLC assays: Our results show that Mg2+ can considerably increase the fluorescence signal of AOH even in a chromatographic system.

Testing Serum Albumins and Cyclodextrins as Potential Binders of the Mycotoxin Metabolites Alternariol-3-Sulfate, Alternariol-9-Monomethylether and Alternariol-9-Monomethylether-3-Sulfate

“…Fluorescence spectroscopic studies have been successfully employed to examine the molecular interactions of AOH with serum albumins, CDs, ions, and detergents [25,30,31]. AS, AME, and AMS also exhibit intrinsic fluorescence.…”

Interactions of Mycotoxin Alternariol with Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and OATP Transporters

“…To examine the OATP1B1-mediated uptake of AOH in A431 cells, our recently reported magnesium-sensitized HPLC-FLD method was applied [ 32 ]. Briefly, samples (20 μL) were driven through a Security Guard (C8, 4.0 × 3.0 mm; Phenomenex, Torrance, CA, USA) precolumn linked to a Kinetex C8 (100 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm; Phenomenex, Torrance, CA, USA) analytical column.…”