Aflatoxin
Chemical structure of (–)-Alflatoxin B1
3D Structure of aflatoxin B1
Other names Aflatoxin B1
Identifiers
PubChem	14403
ChemSpider	13758 Y
ChEMBL	CHEMBL1697694 N
Jmol-3D images	Image 1
SMILES O=C5C=4C(=O)Oc3c1c(OC2O\C=C/C12)cc(OC)c3C=4CC5
InChI InChI=1S/C17H12O6/c1-20-10-6-11-14(8-4-5-21-17(8)22-11)15-13(10)7-2-3-9(18)12(7)16(19)23-15/h4-6,8,17H,2-3H2,1H3 Y Key: OQIQSTLJSLGHID-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
Properties
Molecular formula	C17H12O6
N (verify) (what is: Y/N?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Aflatoxins are naturally occurring mycotoxins that are produced by many species of Aspergillus, a fungus, the most notable ones being Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Their name is derived from the early work that discovered Aspergillus Flavus toxins. Aflatoxins are toxic and among the most carcinogenic substances known.^[1] After entering the body, aflatoxins may be metabolized by the liver to a reactive epoxide intermediate or hydroxylated to become the less harmful aflatoxin M₁.

Contamination conditions[link]

Aspergillus fumigatus as seen under the electron microscope

Aflatoxin-producing members of Aspergillus are common and widespread in nature. They can colonize and contaminate grain before harvest or during storage. Host crops are particularly susceptible to infection by Aspergillus following prolonged exposure to a high-humidity environment, or damage from stressful conditions such as drought, a condition that lowers the barrier to entry.

The native habitat of Aspergillus is in soil, decaying vegetation, hay, and grains undergoing microbiological deterioration, and it invades all types of organic substrates whenever conditions are favorable for its growth. Favorable conditions include high moisture content (at least 7%) and high temperature.

The toxin can also be found in the milk of animals that are fed contaminated feed.

Virtually all sources of commercial peanut butter in the United States contain minute quantities of aflatoxin^{[citation needed]} but it is usually far below the United States Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) recommended safe level.^{[citation needed]}

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established action levels for aflatoxin present in food or feed to protect human and animal health.^[2]

Levels must not exceed:

Pathology[link]

High-level aflatoxin exposure produces an acute hepatic necrosis, resulting later in cirrhosis, and/or carcinoma of the liver. Acute hepatic failure is made manifest by hemorrhage, edema, alteration in digestion, changes to the absorption and/or metabolism of nutrients, and mental changes and/or coma.^{[citation needed]}

No animal species is immune to the acute toxic effects of aflatoxins including humans; however, adult humans have a high tolerance for aflatoxin exposure and rarely succumb to acute aflatoxicosis.^[3]

Chronic, subclinical exposure does not lead to symptoms as dramatic as acute aflatoxicosis. Children, however, are particularly affected by aflatoxin exposure, which leads to stunted growth and delayed development.^[4] Chronic exposure also leads to a high risk of developing liver cancer, as aflatoxin metabolites can intercalate into DNA and alkylate the bases through its epoxide moiety. This is thought to cause mutations in the p53 gene, an important gene in preventing cell cycle progression when there are DNA mutations, or signaling apoptosis. These mutations seem to affect some base pair locations more than others — for example, the third base of codon 249 of the p53 gene appears to be more susceptible to aflatoxin-mediated mutations than nearby bases.^[5]

Medical research indicates that a regular diet including apiaceous vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, celery and parsley, reduces the carcinogenic effects of aflatoxin.^[6]

Microbiology[link]

Aflatoxins are still recognized as the most important mycotoxins. They are synthesized by only a few Aspergillus species of which A. flavus and A. parasiticus are the most problematic. The expression of aflatoxin-related diseases is influenced by factors such as species, age, nutrition, sex, and the possibility of concurrent exposure to other toxins. The main target organ in mammals is the liver, so aflatoxicosis is primarily a hepatic disease. Conditions increasing the likelihood of aflatoxicosis in humans include limited availability of food, environmental conditions that favour mould growth on foodstuffs, and lack of regulatory systems for aflatoxin monitoring and control.^[7]

A. flavus and A. parasiticus are weedy molds that grow on a large number of substrates, in particular under high moisture conditions. Aflatoxins have been isolated from all major cereal crops, and from sources as diverse as peanut butter and marijuana. The staple commodities regularly contaminated with aflatoxins include cassava, chillies, corn, cotton seed, millet, peanuts, rice, sorghum, sunflower seeds, tree nuts, wheat, and a variety of spices intended for human or animal consumption. When processed, aflatoxins get into the general food supply where they have been found in both pet and human foods, as well as in feedstocks for agricultural animals. Aflatoxin transformation products are sometimes found in eggs, milk products and meat when animals are fed contaminated grains.^[8]

Detection in humans[link]

There are two principal techniques that have been used most often to detect levels of aflatoxin in humans.

The first method is measuring the AFB₁-guanine adduct in the urine of subjects. The presence of this breakdown product indicates exposure to aflatoxin B1 in the past 24 hours. However, this technique measures only recent exposure, and, due to the half-life of this metabolite, the level of AFB₁-guanine measured can vary from day to day, based on diet, and thus is not ideal for assessing long-term exposure.

Another technique that has been used is a measurement of the AFB₁-albumin adduct level in the blood serum. This approach provides a more integrated measure of exposure over several weeks/months.

Animals[link]

Aflatoxin has potential to lead to liver disease in dogs; however, not all dogs exposed to aflatoxin will develop liver disease. As with any toxic exposure, development of aflatoxicosis is a dose-related occurrence. Some dogs that develop liver disease will recover; those exposed to large doses for extended periods may not.

Low levels of aflatoxin exposure require continuous consumption for several weeks to months in order for signs of liver dysfunction to appear.^[9] Some articles have suggested the toxic level in dog food is 100-300 ppb and requires continuous exposure/consumption for a few weeks to months to develop aflatoxicosis.^[10] No information is available to suggest that recovered dogs will later succumb to an aflatoxin-induced disease.

There is no specific antidote for aflatoxicosis. Symptomatic and supportive care tailored to the severity of the liver disease may include intravenous fluids with dextrose, active vitamin K, B vitamins, and a restricted but high-quality protein diet with adequate carbohydrate content.

As a precautionary measure, both human and pet food recalls have occurred, casting a wide safety net to prevent exposure to potentially unsafe food. Recalled food products are subsequently sampled and tested for aflatoxin.

On December 20, 2005, Diamond Pet Food discovered aflatoxin in a product manufactured at their facility in Gaston, South Carolina.^[11] Diamond voluntarily recalled in 23 states 19 products formulated with corn and manufactured in the Gaston facility. Testing of more than 2,700 finished product samples conducted by laboratories confirmed that only two date codes of two adult dog formulas with the "Best By" dates of April 3, April 4, April 5, and April 11 were potentially toxic.^[12]

Major types of aflatoxins and their metabolites[link]

At least 14 different types of aflatoxin are produced in nature.^[13] Aflatoxin B₁ is considered the most toxic and is produced by both Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Aflatoxin G₁ and G₂ are produced exclusively by A. parasiticus. While the presence of Aspergillus in food products does not always indicate harmful levels of aflatoxin are also present, it does imply a significant risk in consumption

Aflatoxins M₁, M₂ were originally discovered in the milk of cows that fed on moldy grain. These compounds are products of a conversion process in the animal's liver. However, aflatoxin M₁ is present in the fermentation broth of Aspergillus parasiticus.

• Aflatoxin B₁ & B₂, produced by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus
• Aflatoxin G₁ & G₂, produced by Aspergillus parasiticus
• Aflatoxin M₁, metabolite of aflatoxin B₁ in humans and animals (exposure in ng levels can come from a mother's milk)
• Aflatoxin M₂, metabolite of aflatoxin B₂ in milk of cattle fed on contaminated foods^[14]
• Aflatoxicol
• Aflatoxin Q₁ (AFQ₁), major metabolite of AFB₁ in in vitro liver preparations of other higher vertebrates^[15]

Biosynthetic pathway of Aflatoxin B1[link]

Aflatoxin B1 is derived from both a dedicated fatty acid synthase (FAS) and a polyketide synthase (PKS), together known as norsolorinic acid synthase. The biosynthesis begins with the synthesis of hexanoate by the FAS, which then becomes the starter unit for the iterative type I PKS.^[16][17][18] The PKS adds seven malonyl-CoA extenders to the hexanoate to form the C20 polyketide compound. The PKS folds the polyketide in a particular way to induce cyclization to form the anthraquinone norsolorinic acid. A reductase(E1) then catalyzes the reduction of the ketone on the norsolorinic acid side-chain to yield averantin.^[16][17][18] Averantin is converted to averufin via a two different enzymes, a hydroxylase (E2) and an alcohol dehydrogenase (E3). This will oxygenate and cyclize averantin's side chain to form the ketal in averufin.

From this point on the biosynthetic pathway of aflatoxin B1 becomes much more complicated, with several major skeletal changes. Most of the enzymes have not been characterized and there may be several more intermediates that are still unknown.^[16] However, what is known is that averufin is oxidized by a P450-oxidase, AvfA (E4), in a Baeyer-Villiger oxidation. This opens the ether rings and upon rearrangement versiconal acetate is formed. Now an esterase, EstA (E5), catalyzes the hydrolysis of the acetyl, forming the primary alcohol in versiconal.^[16][18] The acetal in versicolorin A is formed from the cyclization of the side-chain in versiconal, which is catalyzed by VERB synthase (E6), and then VerB, a desaturase (E7), reduces versicolorin B to form the dihydrobisfuran.^[16][18]

There are two more enzymes that catalyze the conversion of versicolorin A to demethylsterigmatocystin: AflN, an oxidase (E8) and AflM, a reductase (E9). These enzymes utilize both molecular oxygen and two NADPH's to dehydrate one of the hydroxyl groups on the anthraquinone and open the quinine with the molecular oxygen.^[16][18] Upon forming the aldehyde in the ring opening step, it is oxidized to form the carboxylic acid and subsequently a decarboxylation event occurs to close the ring, forming the six-member ether ring system seen in demethylsterigmatocystin. The next two steps in the biosynthetic pathway is the methylation by s-adenosylmethionine (SAM) of the two hydroxyl groups on the xanthone part of demethysterigmatocystin by two different methyltransferases, OmtB (E10) and OmtA (E11).^[16][18] This yields 'O'-methylsterigmatocystin. In the final steps there is an oxidative cleavage of the aromatic ring and loss of one carbon in O-methylsterigmatocystin, which is catalyzed by OrdA, an oxidoreductase (E12).^[16][18] Then a final recyclization occurs to form aflatoxin B1.

Manufacturers[link]

As of May 2008, there were only three primary manufacturers (as distinguished from re-packers and re-sellers) of pure aflatoxins:

• Romer Labs^[19] produce patented fully isotope labeled 13C aflatoxins.
• Sigma-Aldrich^[20]
• Fermentek, the only one that produces aflatoxin M₂

Manufacturers use these compounds as an internal standard when monitoring foodstuffs for aflatoxin contamination.

See also[link]

• Aflatoxin total synthesis
• Foodborne illness

Notes[link]

External links[link]

• Detailed listing and information on all Aspergillus mycotoxins
• Detailed information about mycotoxins
• Aflatoxin.info
• Aspergillusflavus.org
• Diamond Pet Food Recall
• [1]