Preparation and isolation of the partially Hydrolyzed Moiety of Fumonisin B1

Abstract

The natural occurrence in corn of carcinogenic mycotoxins, the fumonisins, has prompted the development of potential decontamination procedures. Chemical treatment of fumonisin B1 (FBI)- contaminated corn with calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)21 results in the base hydrolysis of FBI (the major naturally occurring fumonisin analogue) to yield its corresponding aminopentol (AP1) and tricarballylic acid (TCA) moieties. Complete hydrolysis proceeds in a sequential reaction involving the removal of one TCA group and the formation of a partially hydrolyzed moiety (PHI), which exists as an equilibrium mixture of the two possible monoesters. PHI was prepared by the treatment of Fusarium moniliforme culture material with Ca(OH12 and subsequently isolated and purified using chromatographic methods. PHI was also prepared, using similar methods, from pure FBI. The identity of the PHI moiety was determined by liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry.