• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 1995

Microsomes from human liver sample HL 110 oxidized aflatoxin $B_1$ $(AFB_1)$ to $AFB_1$ exo-8, 9-epoxide which was detected as a glutathione (GSH) conjugate with excess GSH S-transferase and to aflatoxin $Q_1$ ($AFB_1$; 3$\alpha$-hydroxyafiatoxin $B_1$), and testosterone to 6$\beta$-hydroxytestosterone. Anti-P450 3A4 nearly completely inhibited all of the reactions. Some fiavonoids inhibited all of the reactions. While other fiayonolds stimulated 8, 9-epoxidation and inhibited 3$\alpha$-hydroxylation. Gestodene inhibited all of the reactions when gestodene was metabolized by human liver microsomal P450 3A4 prior to adding substrate. But, ges-todene was added in the enzyme mixtures in the presence of $AFB_1$, it could not inhibit 8, 9-epoxidation of $AFB_1$. Nifedipine and troleandomycin inhibited both of the reactions of $AFB_1$ but only 3$\alpha$-hydroxylation was inhibited by the oxidation product of nifedipine. Although, troleandomycin was known as a mechanism-based inhibitor, the chemical did not show any detectable inhibitory effect on 6$\beta$-hydroxylation of testosterone. The results suggest that there are several different substrate-binding sites on P450 3A4.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.81-87
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• 2016

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is produced by Aspergillus flavus growing in feedstuffs. Early detection of maize contamination by aflatoxigenic fungi is advantageous since aflatoxins exert adverse health effects. In this study, we report the development of an optimized conventional PCR for AFB1 detection and a rapid, sensitive and simple screening Real-time PCR (qPCR) with SYBR Green and two pairs of primers targeting the aflR genes which involved aflatoxin biosynthesis. AFB1 contaminated maize samples were divided into three groups by the toxin concentration. Genomic DNA was extracted from those samples. The target genes for A. flavus were tested by conventional PCR and the PCR products were analyzed by electrophoresis. A conventional PCR was carried out as nested PCR to verify the gene amplicon sizes. PCR-RFLP patterns, obtained with Hinc II and Pvu II enzyme analysis showed the differences to distinguish aflatoxin-producing fungi. However, they are not quantitative and need a separation of the products on gel and their visualization under UV light. On the other hand, qPCR facilitates the monitoring of the reaction as it progresses. It does not require post-PCR handling, which reduces the risk of cross-contamination and handling errors. It results in a much faster throughout. We found that the optimal primer annealing temperature was $65^{\circ}C$. The optimized template and primer concentration were $1.5{\mu}L\;(50ng/{\mu}L)$ and $3{\mu}L\;(10{\mu}M/{\mu}L)$ respectively. SYBR Green qPCR of four genes demonstrated amplification curves and melting peaks for tub1, afIM, afIR, and afID genes are at $88.0^{\circ}C$, $87.5^{\circ}C$, $83.5^{\circ}C$, and $89.5^{\circ}C$ respectively. Consequently, it was found that the four primers had elevated annealing temperatures, nevertheless it is desirable since it enhances the DNA binding specificity of the dye. New qPCR protocol could be employed for the determination of aflatoxin content in feedstuff samples.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.329-335
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• 1995

Incubation of aflatoxin $B_1$ $(AFB_1)$ with microsomes isolated from human liver number 110 yielded two metabolite peaks which were aflatoxin $Q_1$ $(AFQ_1)$ and $(AFB_1)$-exo-8, 9-epoxide (exo-epoxide) in high performance liquid chromatography. Production ratio of $AFQ_1$ to exo-epoxide was 2.43$\pm $0.04. Metabolism of $(AFB_1)$ to $(AFQ_1)$ and exo-epoxide was inhibited by troleandomycin in a same degree although troleandomycin was not activated as a mechanism-based inhibitor. The inhibitory effect was dependent upon either the incubation time with $(AFB_1)$ or the preincubation time before the addition of $(AFB_1)$. Incubation of troleandomycin and NADPH by the microsomes resulted in the formation of a cytochrome P 450 (P450)-metabollc intermediate (MI) complex and the level was approximately 80% of total P450 3A4 in the microsomes. This figure was similar to that of the inhibitory effect of troleandomycin on $AFB_1$ metabolism. Glutathione which was reported that it prevented the formation of MI complex in rat liver microsomes did not inhibit the formation of MI complex in human liver microsomes. These results suggested that the inhibitory effect of troleandomycin on $AFB_1$ metabolism is due to the formation of MI complex with P450 3A4. And the reaction mechanism of troleandomycin by human liver microsomes might be dlfferent from that one by rat liver microsomes.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.95-101
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• 1999

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 metabolizes aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) to AFB1-exo-8,9-epoxide (8,9-epoxidation) and aflatoxin Q1 (AFQ1; 3$\alpha$-hydroxylation) simultaneously. We investigated whether each metabolite was formed via its own binding site of CAP3A4 active site. Kinetics of the formation of the two metabolites were sigmoidal and consistent with the kinetics of substrate activation. The HIll model predicted that two substrate binding wites are involved in the oxidationof AFB1 by CYP3A4. Dehydronifedipine, a metabolite of nifedipine generated by CYP3A4, inhibited the formation of AFQ1 without any inhibition in the formation of AFB1-exo-8,9-epoxidation. Dehydronifedipine was found to act as a reversible competitive inhibitor against 3$\alpha$-hydroxylation of AFB1. Vmax and S0.5 of the 8,9-epoxidation were not changed in the presence of 0, 50, or 100 $\mu\textrm{M}$ dehydronifedipine. S0.5 of 3$\alpha$-hydroxylation was increased from 58$\pm$4 $\mu\textrm{M}$ to 111$\pm$8 $\mu\textrm{M}$ in the presence of 100 $\mu\textrm{M}$ nifedipine whereas Vmax was not changed. These results suggest that there exist two independent binding sites in the active site of CAP3A4 . One binding site is responsible for AFB1-exo-8,9-epoxidation and the other is involved in 3$\alpha$-hydroxylation of AFB1. Dehydronifedipine might selectively bind to the site which is responsible for the formation of AFQ1 in the active site of CYP3A4.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1207-1213
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• 2020

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus). AFB1 is reported to have high thermal stability and is not decomposed by heat treatment during food processing. Therefore, in this study, knowing that AFB1 is metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP), our aim was to develop a method to detoxify A. flavus-contaminated maize, under normal temperature and pressure, using Escherichia coli expressing human CYP3A4. First, the metabolic activity of AFB1 by recombinant human CYP3A4 was evaluated. As a result, we confirmed that recombinant human CYP3A4 metabolizes 98% of AFB1. Next, we found that aflatoxin Q1, a metabolite of AFB1 was no longer mutagenic. Furthermore, we revealed that about 50% of the AFB1 metabolic activity can be maintained for 3 months when E. coli expressing human CYP3A4 is freeze-dried in the presence of trehalose. Finally, we found that 80% of AFB1 in A. flavus-contaminated maize was metabolized by E. coli expressing human CYP3A4 in the presence of surfactant triton X-405 at a final concentration of 10% (v/v). From these results, we conclude that AFB1 in A. flavus-contaminated maize can be detoxified under normal temperature and pressure by using E. coli expressing human CYP3A4.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.907-915
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• 2014

Alpha-lipoic acid (${\alpha}$-LA) is not only involved in energy metabolism, but is also a powerful antioxidant that can protect against hepatic oxidative stress induced by some drugs, toxins, or under various physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Here, we investigated the effect of ${\alpha}$-LA against liver oxidative damage in broilers exposed to aflatoxin $B_1$ ($AFB_1$). Birds were randomly divided into four groups and assigned different diets: basal diet, 300 mg/kg ${\alpha}$-LA supplementation in basal diet, diet containing 74 ${\mu}g/kg$ $AFB_1$, and 300 mg/kg ${\alpha}$-LA supplementation in diet containing 74 ${\mu}g/kg$ $AFB_1$, for 3 weeks. The results revealed that the addition of 300 mg/kg ${\alpha}$-LA protected against the liver function damage of broilers induced by chronic low dose of $AFB_1$ as estimated by a significant (p<0.05) change in levels of plasma total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase and the activities of liver glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase. The histopathological analysis also showed that liver tissues were injured in the $AFB_1$ diet, but this effect was alleviated by the addition of 300 mg/kg ${\alpha}$-LA. Additionally, $AFB_1$ induced a profound elevation of oxidative stress in birds, as indicated by an increase in malondialdehyde level, a decrease in glutathione peroxidase activity and a depletion of the glutathione content in the liver. All of these negative effects were inhibited by treatment with ${\alpha}$-LA. Our results suggest that the inhibition of $AFB_1$-induced excess production of lipid peroxides and the maintenance of intracellular antioxidant status may play important roles in the protective effects of ${\alpha}$-LA against $AFB_1$-induced oxidative damage in the liver.