Beta-N-Methylamino-L-Alanine: LC-MS/MS Optimization, Screening of Cyanobacterial Strains and Occurrence in Shellfish from Thau, a French Mediterranean Lagoon

Type Article
Date 2014-11
Language English
Author(s) Reveillon DamienORCID1, Abadie EricORCID2, Sechet VeroniqueORCID1, Brient Luc3, Savar Veronique1, Bardouil Michele1, Hess PhilippORCID1, Amzil Zouher1
Affiliation(s) 1 : IFREMER, Phycotoxins Lab, F-44311 Nantes, France.
2 : IFREMER, LER LR, F-34203 Sete, France.
3 : Univ Rennes 1, UMR Ecobio, F-35042 Rennes, France.
Source Marine Drugs (1660-3397) (Mdpi Ag), 2014-11 , Vol. 12 , N. 11 , P. 5441-5467
DOI 10.3390/md12115441
WOS© Times Cited 42
Keyword(s) cyanotoxins, BMAA, DAB, AEG, HILIC-MS/MS, cyanobacteria, bivalve mollusks, French Mediterranean
Abstract beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is a neurotoxic non-protein amino acid suggested to be involved in neurodegenerative diseases. It was reported to be produced by cyanobacteria, but also found in edible aquatic organisms, thus raising concern of a widespread human exposure. However, the chemical analysis of BMAA and its isomers are controversial, mainly due to the lack of selectivity of the analytical methods. Using factorial design, we have optimized the chromatographic separation of underivatized analogues by a hydrophilic interaction chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS/MS) method. A combination of an effective solid phase extraction (SPE) clean-up, appropriate chromatographic resolution and the use of specific mass spectral transitions allowed for the development of a highly selective and sensitive analytical procedure to identify and quantify BMAA and its isomers (in both free and total form) in cyanobacteria and mollusk matrices (LOQ of 0.225 and 0.15 mu g/g dry weight, respectively). Ten species of cyanobacteria (six are reported to be BMAA producers) were screened with this method, and neither free nor bound BMAA could be found, while both free and bound DAB were present in almost all samples. Mussels and oysters collected in 2009 in the Thau Lagoon, France, were also screened, and bound BMAA and its two isomers, DAB and AEG, were observed in all samples (from 0.6 to 14.4 mu g/g DW), while only several samples contained quantifiable free BMAA.
Full Text
File Pages Size Access
Publisher's official version 27 1 MB Open access
Top of the page

How to cite 

Reveillon Damien, Abadie Eric, Sechet Veronique, Brient Luc, Savar Veronique, Bardouil Michele, Hess Philipp, Amzil Zouher (2014). Beta-N-Methylamino-L-Alanine: LC-MS/MS Optimization, Screening of Cyanobacterial Strains and Occurrence in Shellfish from Thau, a French Mediterranean Lagoon. Marine Drugs, 12(11), 5441-5467. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.3390/md12115441 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00245/35579/