Skip to main content
Publications | Persons | Institutes | Projects
[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Improved detection of beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine using N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of N-butylnicotinic acid for the localization of BMAA in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis)
Andrys, R; Zurita, J; Zguna, N; Verschueren, K.; De Borggraeve, W.M.; Ilag, L (2015). Improved detection of beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine using N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of N-butylnicotinic acid for the localization of BMAA in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis). Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 407(13): 3743-3750. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00216-015-8597-2
In: Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. Springer: Heidelberg. ISSN 1618-2642; e-ISSN 1618-2650, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keyword
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    BMAA; Isomers; Neurotoxin; LC-MS/MS; Improved derivatization; Quaternaryammonium

Authors  Top 
  • Andrys, R.
  • Zurita, J.
  • Zguna, N.
  • Verschueren, K.
  • De Borggraeve, W.M., more
  • Ilag, L.

Abstract
    beta-N-Methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) is an important non-protein amino acid linked to neurodegenerative diseases, specifically amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Because it can be transferred and bioaccumulated higher up the food chain, it poses significant public health concerns; thus, improved detection methods are of prime importance for the identification and management of these toxins. Here, we report the successful use of N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of N-butylnicotinic acid (C-4-NA-NHS) for the efficient separation of BMAA from its isomers and higher sensitivity in detecting BMAA compared to the current method of choice using 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate (AQC) derivatization. Implementation of this efficient method allowed localization of BMAA in the non-visceral tissues of blue mussels, suggesting that more efficient depuration may be required to remove this toxin prior to consumption. This is a crucial method in establishing the absence or presence of the neurotoxic amino acid BMAA in food, environmental or biomedical samples.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors