Direct analysis of microcystins by microbore liquid chromatography electrospray ionization ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry

Microcystin Incidence in the Drinking Water of Mozambique: Challenges for Public Health Protection

Microcystins (MCs) are cyanotoxins produced mainly by freshwater cyanobacteria, which constitute a threat to public health due to their negative effects on humans, such as gastroenteritis and related diseases, including death. In Mozambique, where only 50% of the people have access to safe drinking water, this hepatotoxin is not monitored, and consequently, the population may be exposed to MCs. The few studies done in Maputo and Gaza provinces indicated the occurrence of MC-LR, -YR, and -RR at a concentration ranging from 6.83 to 7.78 µg·L-1, which are very high, around 7 times above than the maximum limit (1 µg·L-1) recommended by WHO. The potential MCs-producing in the studied sites are mainly Microcystis species. These data from Mozambique and from surrounding countries (South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Malawi, Zambia, and Tanzania) evidence the need to implement an operational monitoring program of MCs in order to reduce or avoid the possible cases of intoxications since the drinking water quality control tests recommended by the Ministry of Health do not include an MC test. To date, no data of water poisoning episodes recorded were associated with MCs presence in the water. However, this might be underestimated due to a lack of monitoring facilities and/or a lack of public health staff trained for recognizing symptoms of MCs intoxication since the presence of high MCs concentration was reported in Maputo and Gaza provinces.

Measurement of Microcystin and Nodularin Activity in Human Urine by Immunocapture-Protein Phosphatase 2A Assay

Microcystins (MC) and nodularin (NOD) are toxins released by cyanobacteria during harmful algal blooms. They are potent inhibitors of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A (PP1 and PP2A) and cause a variety of adverse symptoms in humans and animals if ingested. More than 250 chemically diverse congeners of MCs have been identified, but certified reference materials are only available for a few. A diagnostic test that does not require each reference material for detection is necessary to identify human exposures. To address this need, our lab has developed a method that uses an antibody to specifically isolate MCs and NOD from urine prior to detection via a commercially available PP2A kit. This assay quantitates the summed inhibitory activity of nearly all MCs and NOD on PP2A relative to a common MC congener, microcystin-LR (MC-LR). The quantitation range for MC-LR using this method is from 0.050–0.500 ng/mL. No background responses were detected in a convenience set of 50 individual urines. Interday and intraday % accuracies ranged from 94%–118% and relative standard deviations were 15% or less, meeting FDA guidelines for receptor binding assays. The assay detected low levels of MCs in urines from three individuals living in close proximity to harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Florida.

Stable-isotope dilution LC-MS/MS method for quantitative determination of microcystin conjugates with cysteine and glutathione in biotic matrices

Microcystins are cyclic peptide toxins with hepatotoxic and tumor-promoting properties, which are produced in significant quantities (up to tens of μg/L) in freshwater cyanobacterial water blooms. Several studies reported microcystin accumulation in fish with possible food transfer to humans. These compounds are further metabolized to cysteine and glutathione conjugates which can be present in tissues in significant concentrations. In this study, we focused on the development and evaluation of robust and highly sensitive SPE-LC-MS/MS method for the analysis of microcystin conjugates in fish tissue samples. For the first time, we demonstrate the use of isotopically labeled internal standards which are essential for accurate and precise determination of analytes in complex biotic matrices. LLOQs of respective microcystin conjugates (signal-to-noise ratio; S/N > 10, peak-to-peak method) ranged from 3.3 to 5.0 ng/g of tissue fresh weight (FW). The calibration was linear within a range of concentrations from 1 to 70 ng/mL for all analyzed conjugates. The precision and repeatability of the method were very good with recoveries in the range of 88.5-107.6% and relative standard deviations between 8.8 and 13.2% for all analytes. In the follow-up study, fully validated method was used for the determination of microcystin conjugate levels in common carp exposed to microcystin-containing cyanobacterial biomass under controlled conditions. Significant amounts of microcystin conjugates (up to 55 ng/g) were found in the tissues of fish after 7 weeks of exposure. Our method was shown to be robust, sensitive, selective, and suitable for the determination of trace levels of microcystin conjugates in fish tissues.

High diversity of microcystins in a Microcystis bloom from an Algerian lake

Microcystins (MCs) are cyanobacterial heptapeptides, produced by several genera and species of cyanobacteria, which have been involved in poisoning of animals throughout the world and have also been implicated in human health problems. They are regarded as the most frequently occurring and widespread of the cyanotoxins, with more than 100 MC variants reported to date including the present study. The lake des Oiseaux is a shallow permanent freshwater lake located in north-eastern Algeria. It is an important natural reserve playing a major role for the migratory birds after the crossing of the Mediterranean Sea and from the Sahara desert. In recent years, possibly related to increased eutrophication of the lake, massive blooms of cyanobacteria identified as Microcystis spp. have been observed. A bloom sample collected in September 2013 was analyzed by the serine/threonine phosphatase PP2A inhibition assay and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to determine respectively, the total concentration of MCs and the different variants of these toxins present. The results revealed that the Microcystis spp. bloom sample contained microcystins of which 21 putatively congeners were detected. Among these, 12 known microcystins (MC-RR, MC-LR, MC-FR, MC-WR, MC-YR, MC-LA, MC-(H4)YR, MC-HilR, [Asp(3)]MC-RAba, and [Glu(OCH3)(6)]MC-LR) and two new congeners ([Asp(3)]MC-HarAba and [Glu(OCH3)(6)]MC-FR) were characterized, considering their molecular mass and the fragment ions produced by collision-induced dissociation of the [M+H](+) ions. MC-RR was the major (43.4%) in the bloom sample.

An integrated strategy for rapid and accurate determination of free and cell-bound microcystins and related peptides in natural blooms by liquid chromatography-electrospray-high resolution mass spectrometry and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight mass spectrometry using both positive and negative ionization modes

An integrated high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) strategy has been developed for rapid and accurate determination of free and cell-bound microcystins (MCs) and related peptides in water blooms. The natural samples (water and algae) were filtered for independent analysis of aqueous and sestonic fractions. These fractions were analyzed by MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS and ESI-Orbitrap-HCD-MS. MALDI, ESI and the study of fragmentation sequences have been provided crucial structural information. The potential of combined positive and negative ionization modes, full scan and fragmentation acquisition modes (TOF/TOF and HCD) by HRMS and high resolution and accurate mass was investigated in order to allow unequivocal determination of MCs. Besides, a reliable quantitation has been possible by HRMS. This composition helped to decrease the probability of false positives and negatives, as alternative to commonly used LC-ESI-MS/MS methods. The analysis was non-target, therefore covered the possibility to analyze all MC analogs concurrently without any pre-selection of target MC. Furthermore, archived data was subjected to retrospective "post-targeted" analysis and a screening of other potential toxins and related peptides as anabaenopeptins in the samples was done. Finally, the MS protocol and identification tools suggested were applied to the analysis of characteristic water blooms from Spanish reservoirs.

Detailed study of cyanobacterial microcystins using high performance tandem mass spectrometry

Microcystins (MC) are a large group of toxic cyclic peptides, produced by cyanobacteria in eutrophic water systems. Identification of MC variants mostly relies on liquid chromatography (LC) combined with collision-induced dissociation (CID) mass spectrometry. Deviations from the essential amino acid complement are a common feature of these natural products, which makes the CID analysis more difficult and not always successful. Here, both CID and electron capture dissociation (ECD) were applied in combination with ultra-high resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry to study a cyanobacteria strain isolated from the Salto Grande Reservoir in Sao Paulo State, Brazil, without prior LC separation. CID was shown to be an effective dissociation technique for quickly identifying the MC variants, even those that have previously been difficult to characterize by CID. Moreover, ECD provided even more detailed and complementary information, which enabled us to precisely locate metal binding sites of MCs for the first time. This additional information will be important for environmental chemists to study MC accumulation and production in ecosystems.

Account: characterization and identification of microcystins by mass spectrometry

In this brief overview, the authors describe mass spectral techniques for the detection and identification of microcystin toxins. Microcystins are secondary metabolites produced by cyanobacteria. Determination of these toxic compounds and discovery of new variants is very important as they pose a great danger to the human food chain. Cyanobacterial blooms frequently occur in many areas worldwide and have the potential to contaminate the water via cyanotoxin release, especially microcystins. Among the various analytical techniques used for analysis, mass spectrometry has become the most important method as it allows simultaneous quantification and structural characterization of multiple microcystin variants. This brief overview article focuses on mass spectrometry techniques for identification of microcystins, including ionization methods, mass spectral fragmentation routes, profiling techniques, tandem and high-resolution mass spectrometry as well as typing of cyanobacterial strains.

Thiol derivatization for LC-MS identification of microcystins in complex matrices

Microcystins are a group of cyclic heptapeptides originating from cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria also produce a range of peptides and other compounds that can result in complex chromatograms when samples are analyzed by LC-MS. Derivatization with appropriate thiols (e.g., mercaptoethanol) of the olefin in the α,β-unsaturated amide present in most microcystins was shown to simplify analysis of LC-MS chromatograms of sample extracts, making it much easier to identify peaks corresponding to candidate microcystins. Furthermore, interpretation of MS(2) spectra was facilitated by addition of the mass associated with the thiol to the α,β-unsaturated amide of microcystins. Cyanotoxins containing Mdha or Dha reacted readily with thiols, whereas Mser, Ser, Mdhb, and thiol-derivatives of Mdha or Dha did not react under the conditions used. This approach therefore provides a convenient LC-MS method to obtain evidence for the presence of Mdha or Dha and can likely be used to differentiate between the isobaric amino acids Mdha and Dhb in candidate cyanotoxin peaks. When O-(2-mercaptoethyl)-O'-methyl-hexa(ethylene glycol) (MEMHEG) (M(w)t. 356) was used as the thiol, the resulting derivatives eluted in an LC-MS mass window that was largely free of interferences. This approach simplifies detection of candidate microcystin analogues even in the presence of complex mixtures of coeluting components. The method was used for qualitative analysis of a Microcystis aeruginosa culture from Lake Naivasha, Kenya, and the results were verified using precursor-ion scanning and high-resolution mass spectrometry.

Dissociation of deprotonated microcystin variants by collision-induced dissociation following electrospray ionization

Microcystins (MC) are a family of hepatotoxic cyclic heptapeptides produced by a number of different cyanobacterial species. Considering the recent advances in the characterization of deprotonated peptides by mass spectrometry, the fragmentation behavior of four structurally related microcystin compounds was investigated using collision-induced dissociation (CID) experiments on an orbitrap mass spectrometer. It is demonstrated in this study that significant structural information can be obtained from the CID spectra of deprotonated microcystins. A predominant ring-opening reaction at the isoMeAsp residue, as well as two major complementary fragmentation pathways, was observed, reducing the complexity of the product ion spectra in comparison with spectra observed from protonated species. This proposed fragmentation behavior was applied to characterize [Leu(1)]MC-LR from a cyanobacterial cell extract. In conclusion, CID spectra of microcystins in the negative ion mode provide rich structurally informative mass spectra which greatly enhance confidence in structural assignments, in particular when combined with complementary positive ion CID spectra.

A peptidomic approach for monitoring and characterising peptide cyanotoxins produced in Italian lakes by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

In recent years, the occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms in eutrophic freshwaters has been described all over the world, including most European countries. Blooms of cyanobacteria may produce mixtures of toxic secondary metabolites, called cyanotoxins. Among these, the most studied are microcystins, a group of cyclic heptapeptides, because of their potent hepatotoxicity and activity as tumour promoters. Other peptide cyanotoxins have been described whose structure and toxicity have not been thoroughly studied. Herein we present a peptidomic approach aimed to characterise and quantify the peptide cyanotoxins produced in two Italian lakes, Averno and Albano. The procedure was based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) analysis for rapid detection and profiling of the peptide mixture complexity, combined with liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation quadrupole time-of- flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS) which provided unambiguous structural identification of the main compounds, as well as accurate quantitative analysis of microcystins. In the case of Lake Averno, a novel variant of microcystin-RR and two novel anabaenopeptin variants (Anabaenopeptins B(1) and Anabaenopeptin F(1)), presenting homoarginine in place of the commonly found arginine, were detected and characterised. In Lake Albano, the peculiar peptide patterns in different years were compared, as an example of the potentiality of the peptidomic approach for fast screening analysis, prior to fine structural analysis and determination of cyanotoxins, which included six novel aeruginosin variants. This approach allows for wide range monitoring of cyanobacteria blooms, and to collect data for evaluating possible health risks to consumers, through the panel of the compounds produced along different years.

Identification of microcystins from three collection strains of Microcystis aeruginosa

Microcystins (MCs) are toxic cyclic heptapeptides produced by various cyanobacteria genera, especially Microcystis. We identified 10 out of 12 MCs produced by three Microcystis aeruginosa strains from cyanobacteria collections, UTEX 2666, UTEX 2670 and UAM 1303, by using two analytical methods: Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) and HPLC Photodiode Array Detector coupled to a hybrid Quadrupole Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-PDA-QTOF/MS). MALDI-TOF/MS failed to detect non-polar MCs, such as MC-LY and MC-LW. HPLC-QTOF/MS permitted the accurate identification of most MCs present in methanolic extracts. Besides, three new MCs, namely: [D-Glu(OCH3)6, D-Asp3] MC-LAba, MC-YL and MC-YM were detected by HPLC-QTOF/MS.

Characterisation of biotoxins produced by a cyanobacteria bloom in Lake Averno using two LC-MS-based techniques

Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) cause blooms in eutrophic lakes and drinking water reservoirs. They also produce biotoxins, including microcystins (MCs), highly toxic cyclic heptapeptides that cause poisoning in animals and human. In this paper, we present a method for the analysis of four MCs by ion trap LC-MS and MALDI-TOF/MS. The data are compared to evaluate the performance and reliability of the different MS detection systems. The method was applied to the analysis of water and algae samples from Lake Averno, near Naples, as a consequence of a cyanobacteria bloom. The analysis of algae cell extracts showed no contamination by known microcystins, but the three main substances were detected. MALDI-TOF/MS was successful for screening of the biotoxins in the samples, identifying anabaenopeptin B and anabaenopeptin F as the major contaminants on the basis of literature mass spectrometry data. The structure of the third compound was not identified and is under further investigation. The method could characterise the biotoxins produced in Lake Averno for evaluating health risks related to their presence.

A fluorescent immunochromatographic test using immunoliposomes for detecting microcystins and nodularins

Microcystins (MCs), a group of cyclic heptapeptides produced by common cyanobacteria (blue green algae), cause both acute and chronic toxicity. Due to their toxicity, constant monitoring in drinking water, recreational waters as well as other potential exposure through ingestion of contaminated sea food, is very important. In this context, an immunochromatographic test (ICT) using a monoclonal antibody labeled with fluorescent liposomes (immunoliposomes) as tracer was developed, allowing a rapid and simple detection of a large number of MC and nodularin variants in field samples. The present ICT using immunoliposomes proved to be ten times more sensitive than the ICT using colloidal gold for labeling. To achieve quantitative measurement, this ICT was improved by including a stable signal on the control band allowing the expression of the results as a ratio of the fluorescence signals of the specific band versus the control band (SB/CB). Very low concentrations of MC-LR were detected in the analysis buffer (0.06 ng/ml), well below the guideline value of 1 ng/ml proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO), with a dynamic range from 0.06 to 1.5 ng/ml of MC-LR. This method was also validated using a hand-held commercial fluorometer (from ESE), providing the same performances obtained via the analysis station (from Kodak) used in our laboratory. Repeatability tests performed with both devices showed good accuracy (CV < 13%). Furthermore, quantification of MCs in natural samples (water bloom and Microcystis culture) was achieved using ICT, leading to similar results obtained via an EIA previously described. All these results demonstrate that this new fluorescent ICT could be used not only as a sensitive detection tool but also to quantify MCs in field samples.

Liquid chromatography coupled to quadruple time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry for microcystin analysis in freshwaters: method performances and characterisation of a novel variant of microcystin-RR

Cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, occur worldwide within water blooms in eutrophic lakes and drinking water reservoirs, producing several biotoxins (cyanotoxins). Among these, microcystins (MCs) are a group of cyclic heptapeptides showing potent hepatotoxicity and activity as tumour promoters. So far, at least 89 MCs from different cyanobacteria genera have been characterised. Herein, ion trap, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight (MALDI-ToF) and quadruple time-of-flight (Q-ToF) mass spectrometry (MS)-based methods were tested and compared for analysing MCs in freshwaters. Method performances in terms of limit of detection, limit of quantification, mean recoveries, repeatability, and specificity were evaluated. In particular, a liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation (LC/ESI)-Q-ToF-MS/MS method was firstly described to analyse MCs in freshwaters; this technique is highly selective and sensitive, and allowed us to characterise the molecular structure of an unknown compound. Indeed, the full structural characterisation of a novel microcystin variant from a bloom of Planktothrix rubescens in the Lake Averno, near Naples, was attained by the study of the fragmentation pattern. The new cyanotoxin was identified as the 9-acetyl-Adda variant of microcystin-RR.

Investigation of amodiaquine bulk drug impurities by liquid chromatography/ion trap mass spectrometry

Three unknown impurities in an amodiaquine bulk drug sample were detected by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC/UV). A liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS(n)) method is described for the investigation of these impurities. Mass spectral data were acquired on an LCQ ion trap mass analyzer equipped with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source operated in positive ion mode. The fragmentation behavior of amodiaquine and its impurities has been studied. Based on the mass spectral data and the specifics of the synthetic route, the possible structures of these impurities were elucidated as 4-[(5-chloroquinolin-4-yl)amino]-2-(diethylaminomethyl)phenol (impurity I), 4-[(7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)-amino]phenol (impurity II) and 4-[(7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)amino]-2-(diethylaminomethyl)-N(1)-oxy]phenol (impurity III). The structures were confirmed by their independent synthesis and NMR spectral assignment.

Toxins of cyanobacteria

Blue-green algae are found in lakes, ponds, rivers and brackish waters throughout the world. In case of excessive growth such as bloom formation, these bacteria can produce inherent toxins in quantities causing toxicity in mammals, including humans. These cyanotoxins include cyclic peptides and alkaloids. Among the cyclic peptides are the microcystins and the nodularins. The alkaloids include anatoxin-a, anatoxin-a(S), cylindrospermopsin, saxitoxins (STXs), aplysiatoxins and lyngbyatoxin. Both biological and chemical methods are used to determine cyanotoxins. Bioassays and biochemical assays are nonspecific, so they can only be used as screening methods. HPLC has some good prospects. For the subsequent detection of these toxins different detectors may be used, ranging from simple UV-spectrometry via fluorescence detection to various types of MS. The main problem in the determination of cyanobacterial toxins is the lack of reference materials of all relevant toxins. In general, toxicity data on cyanotoxins are rather scarce. A majority of toxicity data are known to be of microcystin-LR. For nodularins, data from a few animal studies are available. For the alkaloids, limited toxicity data exist for anatoxin-a, cylindrospermopsin and STX. Risk assessment for acute exposure could be relevant for some types of exposure. Nevertheless, no acute reference doses have formally been derived thus far. For STX(s), many countries have established tolerance levels in bivalves, but these limits were set in view of STX(s) as biotoxins, accumulating in marine shellfish. Official regulations for other cyanotoxins have not been established, although some (provisional) guideline values have been derived for microcystins in drinking water by WHO and several countries.

Liquid Chromatography−Tandem Mass Spectrometry Application, for the Determination of Extracellular Hepatotoxins in Irish Lake and Drinking Waters

A novel method for the determination of hepatotoxins; microcystins (MCs), and nodularin (Nod) in lake water and domestic chlorinated tap water has been developed using liquid chromatography hyphenated with electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Optimization of the mass spectrometer parameters and mobile-phase composition was performed to maximize the sensitivity and reproducibility of the method. Detection of the hepatotoxins was carried out using multiple reaction monitoring experiments, thus improving the selectivity of the method. A total ion chromatogram and a precursor ion scan on ion m/z 135 was also applied to all samples to detect unknown microcystins or microcystins for which there are no standards available. A comprehensive validation of the LC-ESI-MS/MS method was completed that took into account matrix effects, specificity, linearity, accuracy, and precision. Good linear calibrations were obtained for MC-LR (1-200 microg/L; R2=0.9994) in spiked lake and tap water samples (1-50 microg/L; R2=0.9974). Acceptable interday repeatability was achieved for MC-LR in lake water with RSD values (n=9) ranging from 9.9 (10 microg/L) to 5.1% (100 microg/L). Excellent limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantitation (LOQ) were achieved with spiked MCs and Nod samples; LOD=0.27 microg/L and LOQ=0.90 microg/L for MC-LR in the "normal linear range" and LOD=0.08 microg/L and LOQ=0.25 microg/L in the "low linear range" in both lake and chlorinated tap water. Similar results were obtained for a suite of microcystins and nodularin. This sensitive and rapid method does not require any sample preconcentration, including the elimination of solid-phase extraction (SPE) for the effective screening of hepatotoxins in water below the 1 microg/L WHO provisional guideline limit for MC-LR. Furthermore, SPE techniques are time-consuming, nonreproducible at trace levels, and offer poor recoveries with chlorinated water. The application of this LC-ESI-MS/MS method for routine screening of hepatotoxins in lake and chlorinated tap water (average Cl2=0.23 mg/L) is achieved and this study represents the first direct method for the screening of hepatotoxins in chlorinated tap water.

Methods for determining microcystins (peptide hepatotoxins) and microcystin-producing cyanobacteria

Episodes of cyanobacterial toxic blooms and fatalities to animals and humans due to cyanobacterial toxins (CBT) are known worldwide. The hepatotoxins and neurotoxins (cyanotoxins) produced by bloom-forming cyanobacteria have been the cause of human and animal health hazards and even death. Prevailing concentration of cell bound endotoxin, exotoxin and the toxin variants depend on developmental stages of the bloom and the cyanobacterial (CB) species involved. Toxic and non-toxic strains do not show any predictable morphological difference. The current instrumental, immunological and molecular methods applied for determining microcystins (peptide hepatotoxins) and microcystin-producing cyanobacteria are reviewed.

Structural Characterization of Microcystins by LC/MS/MS under Ion Trap Conditions

LC/MS/MS under ion trap conditions was used to analyze microcystins produced by cyanobacteria. Tandem mass spectrometry using MS2 was quite effective since ions arising from cleavage at a peptide bond provide useful sequence information. The fragmentation was confirmed by a shifting technique using structurally-related microcystins and the resulting fragmentation pattern was different from those determined by triple stage MS/MS and four sector MS/MS. Analysis of a mixture of microcystins in a bloom sample was successfully performed and two new microcystins were identified by LC/MS/MS under ion trap conditions. Thus, LC/MS/MS under ion trap conditions is effective for the structural characterization of microcystins.

Microcystin analysis in human sera and liver from human fatalities in Caruaru, Brazil 1996

In 1996, an extensive exposure of Brazilian hemodialysis patients at a dialysis center, using a municipal water supply water contaminated with cyanotoxins, provided the first evidence for acute lethal human poisoning from the cyclic peptide hepatotoxins called microcystins. During this outbreak, 100 of 131 patients developed acute liver failure and 52 of these victims were confirmed to have been exposed to lethal levels of microcystins. Detection and quantitation of microcystins in these biological samples posed some analytical challenges since there were no well-established and routine analytic methods to measure total microcystins in tissue or sera samples. At the time of the 1996 exposure we used analytic methods that combined the use of enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA), analytical high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), electrospray ionization ion-trap mass spectroscopy (ES-ITMS) and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF). In the intervening years these methods have been improved and others developed that allow a more quantitative and critical analysis of microcystin contaminated tissue and sera. For these reasons, and to see how storage with time might effect the detection and stability of microcystins in these matrices, we reanalyzed selected liver tissues and sera from the Caruaru victims in Brazil. We developed and validated a procedure to measure total microcystins in Caruaru human sera and liver tissue using a combination of ELISA, liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS), GC/MS and MS/MS techniques. GC/MS and LC/MS were followed by MS/MS to obtain a fingerprint fragment spectra for the microcystins. The validity of the extraction procedure for free microcystins was confirmed by recovery experiments with blood sera spiked with microcystin-LR. We removed proteins with the Microcon Centrifugal Filter prior to LC/MS and ELISA analysis. A solid phase extraction (SPE) procedure was used for analysis of protein bound microcystins by conversion of ADDA to erythro-2-methyl-3-methoxy-4-phenylbutyric acid (MMPB) combined with GC/MS. We found that the GC/MS method yielded a higher concentration of microcystin than that obtained by ELISA and LC/MS. We hypothesize that this difference is due to better GC/MS detection of the covalently bound form of microcystins in human liver tissue. We also concluded that microcystins are very stable when stored under these conditions for periods of almost 10 years.

Characterization of microcystin production in an Antarctic cyanobacterial mat community

Cyanobacteria are well known for their production of non-ribosomal cyclic peptide toxins, including microcystin, in temperate and tropical regions, however, the production of these compounds in extremely cold environments is still largely unexplored. Therefore, we investigated the production of protein phosphatase inhibiting microcystins by Antarctic cyanobacteria. We have identified microcystin-LR and for the first time [D-Asp3] microcystin-LR by mass spectrometric analysis in Antarctic cyanobacteria. The microcystins were extracted from a benthic microbial community that was sampled from a meltwater pond (Fresh Pond, McMurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica). The extracted cyanobacterial cyclic peptides were equivalent to 11.4 ng MC-LR per mg dry weight by semi-quantitative analyses using HPLC-DAD and the protein phosphatase inhibition assay. Furthermore, we were able to identify the presence of cyanobacterial non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) and polyketide synthase (PKS) genes in total DNA extracts from the mat community.

Pressurized liquid extraction of toxins from cyanobacterial cells

The suitability of pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) of cyanotoxins from cells was investigated. The stability of cyanotoxins (MCYST-RR, MCYST-LR, and anatoxin-a) was evaluated at nine combinations of pressure and temperature (7, 10, and 14 MPa and 60 degrees C, 80 degrees C and 100 degrees C) using 75% (v/v) methanol in water (MeOH) as solvent. Additional experiments investigated the stability of cyanotoxins when water was used as solvent (at a pressure of 14 MPa and a temperature of 40 degrees C, 50 degrees C, 60 degrees C, 80 degrees C, or 100 degrees C). Results using 75% MeOH showed that the MCYST-RR and MCYST-LR were stable under the tested pressures up to 80 degrees C. At 100 degrees C MCYST recovery decreased by 10% to 17%. When water was used as the solvent, no differences in recovery were observed for MCYST-LR, whereas for MCYST-RR, maximum recovery was obtained at 60 degrees C, and degradation occurred at 100 degrees C. In contrast, anatoxin-a was labile under all experimental conditions; the best recoveries (ca. 50%) were obtained at 60 degrees C at the three pressures using 75% MeOH. However, only 17%-23% recovery was obtained with water extraction at all temperatures. The extraction of MCYST-LR and variants from cells (Microcystis aeruginosa, UTCC299) was studied using two solvents, 75% MeOH and 100% water, at 14 MPa and 60 degrees C and 100 degrees C. PLE extracts were compared with extracts obtained with 75% MeOH and ultrasonication. Complete extraction was achieved in both solvents in one 5-min cycle (at 100 degrees C). Although lower recovery was obtained using PLE (79%-105%), shorter extraction time and automation are advantageous over ultrasonication.

Determination of microcystins in biological samples by matrix solid-phase dispersion and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry

A method for the detection and quantification of the microcystins (MCs)-MC-LR, MC-RR and MC-YR-in biological samples by matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) has been developed. The optimum extraction conditions were 500 mg of liver or kidney, C18 bonded silica as dispersant, and a mixture methanol-water (70:30) as eluent. The MCs were determined by liquid chromatography electrospray mass spectrometry (LC/ES/MS). Recoveries of biological extracts at three different spiked levels (1-10 mg kg(-1)) ranged from 40.5 to 87.0% in liver, and from 52.5 to 74.5 in kidney. R.S.D.s were < 15.6% and < 10.6%, respectively. The detection and quantification limits were 0.05 and 0.5 mg kg(-1), for all MCs. The method was applied to MCs detection in liver and kidney of rat previously injected i.p. with MC-LR. Results showed the presence of MC-LR in the liver of the animals injected with the highest dose.

Detection of the cyanobacterial hepatotoxins microcystins

Concern regarding the presence of microcystins in drinking water and their possible contamination in food (e.g., salad vegetables, fish, shellfish) has resulted in the need for reliable methods for the detection and accurate quantification of this class of toxins. Currently, routine analysis of microcystins is most commonly carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA), although more sensitive biological assays such as antibody-based ELISAs and protein phosphatase inhibition assays have also proven useful. However, many of these methods have been hindered by the availability of a wide range of purified microcystins. Although over 60 variants have now been reported, only a very small number are commercially available and calibrated standards are not yet obtainable. This has led to the common practice of reporting microcystin-LR equivalence regardless of which variant is present. The increased availability of HPLC with online mass spectral analysis (HPLC-MS) may facilitate more accurate detection of toxin variants but as several microcystins share the same molecular mass, definitive identification can be difficult. A further difficulty in analyzing microcystins is the requirement for sample processing before analysis. Solid phase extraction (SPE) is typically used to enrich environmental concentrations of microcystins, or to eliminate contaminants from complex samples such as animal and plant tissues. Recently, new technologies employing recombinant antibodies and molecularly imprinted polymers have been exploited to develop assays and biosensors for microcystins. These novel detection systems are highly sensitive, often do not require sample processing, and offer a simpler, less expensive alternative to analytical techniques. They have also been successfully employed in solid phase extraction formats for the concentration and clean up of environmental samples before HPLC analysis.

Characterization of microcystins using in-source collision-induced dissociation

The efficiency of the in-source collision-induced dissociation (in-source CID) technique for the structural characterization of microcystins (MCYSTs) was evaluated. Microcystins that did not contain arginine underwent facile fragmentation to produce characteristic product ions at relatively low cone voltage and could be fully characterized based on their mass spectra. On the other hand, cyclic peptides possessing arginine residues, such as MCYST-RR, -LR, -YR and nodularin, were considerably more stable under in-source CID conditions and required higher cone voltage to induce fragmentation. This behaviour is explained in terms of the mobile proton model for peptide fragmentation that can be used as an indication for the presence of arginine when unknown microcystins are analyzed. In-source CID was applied to the characterization of microcystins released into water from a Microcystis aeruginosa culture (UTCC299) (UTCC: University of Toronto Culture Collection of Algae and Cyanobacteria). Six microcystins were detected in extracts from UTCC299: I, [D-Asp(3)]MCYST-LR; II, MCYST-LR; III, isomer of MCYST-LR; IV, isomer of methyl MCYST-LR; V, [D-Asp(3), Glu(OCH(3))(6)]MCYST-LR; and VI, [D-Glu(OCH(3))(6)]MCYST-LR. In-source CID provided mass spectral patterns similar to those obtained by CID in the collision cell of the mass spectrometer but was more sensitive for the analysis of microcystins.

Determination of microcystins in natural blooms and cyanobacterial strain cultures by matrix solid-phase dispersion and liquid chromatography?mass spectrometry

An analytical procedure based on matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was developed for determining three microcystins (MCs) in natural water blooms and cyanobacteria strain cultures. The procedure involves sample homogenization with C(18), washed with dichloromethane to eliminate interfering compounds, and elution with acidic methanol. Results were compared to those achieved by using an organic solvent standard method. Mean recoveries of MCs with MSPD were 85-92% with intra-day relative standard deviation (RSDs) of 9-19%, whereas organic solvent extraction resulted in recovery rates of 92-105% with intra-day RSDs ranging from 8 to 18%. Limits of quantification (LOQs) were 1 microg g(-1) dry weight for the MCs either by MSPD or organic solvent extraction. The two analytical methods tested were specific and sensitive to the extraction of MCs and were applied to the detection of MCs in water blooms and culture strains. The concentration of MCs varied from 7 to 3,330 microg g(-1) of lyophilized cells with MC-LR always showing the highest concentration. MCs levels were higher in culture strains than in water blooms, except for MC-LR, whose concentration in blooms was slightly superior to that determined in culture strains.

MS(n) characterization of protonated cyclic peptides and metal complexes

MS(n) experiments involving low energy collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) in a quadrupole ion trap were used to characterize the fragmentation of alkali, alkaline earth and transition metal complexes of five cyclic peptides, and the results were compared with those obtained for protonated cyclic peptides. Complexes with metal ions produced enhanced abundances of the most diagnostic fragments for elucidating the primary structures. For cyclosporin A, nickel and lithium complexes gave additional sequence information compared with the protonated peptide. For depsipeptides, sodium and lead complexes were superior to the protonated peptide or other metal complexes for sequencing residues, and CAD of the lead complexes led to preferential cleavage of two residues at a time. For cyclic lipopeptides, complexes with silver, nickel and strontium ions provided enhanced abundances of key fragment ions.

Determination of toxic cyclic heptapeptides by liquid chromatography with detection using ultra-violet, protein phosphatase assay and tandem mass spectrometry

Microcystins, toxic cyclic heptapeptides and nodularin-R, a toxic cyclic pentapeptide, were determined using liquid chromatography (LC) with detection using photo-diode array ultra-violet (PDA-UV) and protein phosphatase (PP) assay. Positive fractions were analysed for toxins using collision-induced dissociation (CID) and tandem MS/MS experiments which were carried out simultaneously using electrospray ion-trap instrumentation. Reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC) using an acetonitrile/water gradient was used for the LC-MS(2) determination of six microcystins standards and nodularin. The molecular related ion species, [M+H](+)([M+2H](2+) in the case of MC-RR), were used as the precursor ions for MS(2) experiments. Optimum calibration and reproducibility data were obtained for MC-LR using LC-MS(2); 0.1-5.0 microg/ml, r2 = 0.992 (n = 3); % RSD < or =7.3 at 0.25 microg MC-LR/ml (n = 3). The detection limit (S/N = 3) was better than 0.1 ng. Water samples for microcystin analysis were first screened using protein phosphatase (PP) assays and positives were concentrated using C-18 solid-phase extraction. The developed method was applied to examine a lake in Ireland contaminated by Microcystis sp. and MC-LR and MC-LA were identified.

Screening for cyanobacterial hepatotoxins, microcystins and nodularin in environmental water samples by reversed-phase liquid chromatography–electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

Water samples taken from 93 freshwater and brackish water locations in Aland (SW Finland) in 2001 were analysed for biomass-bound microcystins and nodularin, cyanobacterial peptide hepatotoxins, by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) in selected ion recording (SIR) and multiple reaction monitoring modes, HPLC-UV, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The extracted toxins were separated on a short C18 column with a gradient of acetonitrile and 0.5% formic acid, and quantified on a Micromass Quattro Micro triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer with an electrospray ion source operated in the positive SIR or scan mode. An injection of 50 pg of microcystin-LR, m/z 995.5, on column gave a signal-to-noise ratio of 17 (peak-to-peak) at the chosen SIR conditions. In-source or MS-MS fragmentation to m/z 135.1, a fragment common to most microcystins and nodularin, was used for confirmatory purposes. Microcystins with a total toxin concentration equal to or higher than 0.2 microg l(-1) were confirmed by all three methods in water samples from 14 locations. The highest toxin concentration in a water sample was 42 microg l(-1). The most common toxins found were microcystins RR, LR and YR with different degrees of demethylation (non-, mono- or didemethylated). Parallel results achieved with ELISA and HPLC-UV were generally in good agreement with the LC-MS SIR results.

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and strategies for trace-level analysis of polar organic pollutants

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry using atmospheric pressure ionization (LC-API-MS) has drastically changed the analytical methods used to detect polar pollutants in water. The present status of application of this technique to organic water constituents is reviewed. The selection of the appropriate LC conditions, whether reversed-phase liquid chromatography, ion-pair chromatography, capillary electrophoresis or ion chromatography, and of the most sensitive ionization mode, electrospray ionization (ESI) or atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), depends upon the polarity and acidity of the analytes. Strongly acidic compounds such as aromatic sulfonates, sulfonated dyes, haloacetic acids, linear alkylbenzene sulfonates, aliphatic sulfonates and sulfates and complexing agents, weakly acidic compounds such as carboxylates and phenols, neutral compound classes, namely alkylphenol ethoxylates, alcohol ethoxylates and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the basic toxins, quaternary ammonium compounds and organometallic compounds are considered. The selection of the mass spectrometer depends upon the analytical task: triple-quadrupole mass spectrometers are highly suited for sensitive quantitation and for qualitative analyses, ion traps are especially suited for structure elucidation, whereas time-of-flight mass spectrometers and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometers with their higher mass resolution are ideal for the determination of molecular formulas of unknown compounds and for screening purposes. While large steps have already been made, future efforts with respect to water analysis may be directed at fine-tuning the methodical arsenal for increased sensitivity and selectivity and to extend LC-MS application to transformation products.

Analysis of cyanobacterial hepatotoxins in water samples by microbore reversed-phase liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

A method based on liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry with positive electrospray ionisation was developed for the analysis of cyanobacterial hepatotoxins in environmental samples. The chromatographic separation was performed using two microbore columns, 2 mm and 1 mm I.D. columns, which allowed the coupling of liquid chromatography to mass spectrometry with no flow splitting. Analytes were eluted using two different water-acetonitrile, both acidified with formic acid gradients. Mass spectrometric parameters were optimised in order to maximise sensitivity. Detection limits for the 2 mm I.D. column ranged from 0.077 to 2.057 ng in full scan and from 0.021 to 1.153 ng in SIM mode. However, limits of detection as low as 60-340 pg in full scan and 6-72 pg in SIM mode were achieved for the 1 mm I.D. column. Finally, the proposed method was applied to the analysis of microcystins and nodularins in real samples.