LC-MS identification of toxic alkaloids from fungi in the family Clavicipitaceae

TOXI 87

Monica S. Torres, mstorres@eden.rutgers.edu1, Ajay P. Singh, singh@aesop.rutgers.edu1, Nicholi Vorsa, vorsa@aesop.rutgers.edu2, and James F. White, white@rci.rutgers.edu3. (1) Plant Biology, Rutgers University, 59 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, (2) Department of Plant Biology and Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry & Cranberry Research & Extension, Rutgers University, 125 Lake Oswego Rd., Chatsworth, NJ 08019, (3) Plant Biology and Pathology, Rutgers University, 59 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
The fungal family Clavicipitaceae (Hypocreales, Ascomycota) is known for being a rich source of ergot alkaloids. Ergot alkaloids are known toxins to humans and animals having effects on the neurological, cardiovascular, reproductive, and immune systems. The objective of this study was to identify ergot alkaloids presence in representatives of the family Clavicipitaceae. Several methods were used to identify specific ergot alkaloids through comparison with standards, UV spectra having maximum absorption at 316-318 nm and a minimum at 268 nm. A new LC-MS method was developed to asses the presence of ergot alkaloids in the fungal extracts. LC-MS fragment patterns of m/z 208, 223, 268 were used to identify the ergoline ring structure precursor of ergot alkaloids. With this method ergot alkaloids were detected in six fungal species including grass endophytes and scale insect parasites. This new LC-MS method can be used as a fast screening method to identify the toxic ergot alkaloids as commercial standards are not yet available.
 

Poster Session and Awards
6:00 PM-10:00 PM, Tuesday, August 21, 2007 BCEC -- 204 A/B, Poster

Division of Chemical Toxicology

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007