In Vivo Detection of Tetrodotoxin in Takifugu obscurus Based on Solid-Phase Microextraction Coupled with Ultrahigh-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Pufferfish is nutritious and delicious, but the tetrodotoxin (TTX) that may exist in its body poses a serious safety hazard. It is important to use scientific and effective methods to detect the TTX in pufferfish, but most of the existing methods require complex pre-treatment steps and have sample lethality. The solid-phase microextraction (SPME) technology can be used for in vivo detection due to its advantages such as no solvent demand, simple operation, and fast detection speed. In this study, the GO-PAN@PNE SPME fibers were made via a dipping method, and their extraction effect was verified in the TTX aqueous and spiked fish. The established method has good reproducibility, and the limit of detection of TTX in pufferfish was 32 ng·g⁻¹, and the limit of quantitation was 150 ng·g⁻¹, which can meet the detection needs of pufferfish for safe consumption. This method was used to in vivo detect the Takifugu obscurus exposed to the TTX, to determine the content of TTX in the pufferfish muscle. The detection method established in this study can relatively quickly and easily realize the in vivo detection of TTX in the pufferfish, which can provide theoretical support for improvement in the food safety level of the pufferfish.     

固相萃取-超过滤-液相色谱/质谱联用法测定织纹螺中的河豚毒素

建立了液相色谱-质谱法测定织纹螺中河豚毒素的分析方法。匀质后的样品用0.03 mol/L乙酸溶液提取,水浴加热10 min,用Sep-Pak C18固相萃取柱净化,再用截留相对分子质量为3000的超滤管过滤。采用Insertsil ODS-3色谱柱分离,以含有30 mmol/L七氟丁酸的甲酸铵溶液(1 mmol/L)-甲醇(体积比为99∶1)为流动相,采用电喷雾离子源,选择离子监测模式检测。以保留时间和河豚毒素的二级质谱特征碎片离子予以定性确证。结果表明,在此分析条件下,可将河豚毒素及其衍生物分离,在0.01～10.0 mg/L范围内线性关系良好(r2＞0.995),检出限(以3倍信噪比为计)为2 μg/L,平均加标回收率为72.5%～80.4%,相对标准偏差为4.48%～8.87%。将该方法用于实际样品检测,在赤潮后所采集的织纹螺样品中检出了河豚毒素。     

Evaluation of Helically Coiled and Knitted Open Tubular Reactors for the Efficient Post-Column Determination of Tetrodotoxin by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

A postcolumn fluorescence reaction system for the high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) determination of tetrodotoxin in the silver-cheeked toadfish Lagocephalus sceleratus is discussed theoretically and investigated experimentally. Ion-pair chromatography with volatile ammonium perfluoroheptanoate was used for the separation of tetrodotoxin and 4,9-anhydrotetrodotoxin. The postcolumn reaction was based on the tetrodotoxin conversion to a quinazoline fluorescent compound under strong alkaline conditions. All postcolumn parameters were optimized that affected the sensitivity, dispersion, and stability. Helically coiled and knitted open tubular reactors composed of polyetheretherketone were constructed and characterized in detail. The performance of these reactors was evaluated on the basis of sensitivity and dispersion. Their optimal design is reported. The knitted reactors were more efficient than the relevant helically coiled reactors when higher reaction times are required. A 1500-µL polyetheretherketone knitted coil with 0.010″ internal diameter was optimum exhibiting higher pressure tolerances than Teflon coils. The HPLC postcolumn reaction method was evaluated in terms of linearity, sensitivity, accuracy, precision, and ruggedness. The linear dynamic ranges for tetrodotoxin and 4,9-anhydrotetrodotoxin were 40–3000 and 80–3000 ppb, respectively. The limits of detection and quantification were 12 and 41 ppb, respectively, for tetrodotoxin and 26 and 85 ppb, respectively, for 4,9-anhydrotetrodotoxin. The accuracy was evaluated by recovery measurements and the values for tetrodotoxin were between 90.7 and 93.6%. The use of a volatile perfuorocarboxylic acid as an ion-pair reagent allows confirmation of analytes in sample matrix by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry using identical mobile phase conditions.     

Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Advanced Intermediates for Formal Total Syntheses of Tetrodotoxin

Advanced intermediates for the syntheses of tetrodotoxin reported by the groups of Fukuyama, Alonso, and Sato were prepared. Key steps include the toluene dioxygenase mediated dihydroxylation of either iodobenzene or benzyl acetate. The resulting diene diols were transformed into Fukuyama's intermediate in six steps, into Alonso's intermediate in nine steps, and into Sato's intermediate in ten steps.     

Cyclic Guanidine Compounds from Toxic Newts Support the Hypothesis that Tetrodotoxin is Derived from a Monoterpene

The biosynthesis of tetrodotoxin (TTX), a potent neurotoxin consisting of a 2,4‐dioxaadamantane skeleton and a guanidine moiety, is an unsolved problem in natural product chemistry. Recently, the first C5–C10 directly bonded TTX analogue, 4,9‐anhydro‐10‐hemiketal‐5‐deoxyTTX, was obtained from toxic newts and its carbon skeleton suggested a possible monoterpene origin. On the basis of this hypothesis, screening of predicted biosynthetic intermediates of TTX was performed using two MS‐guided methods. Herein, five novel cyclic guanidine compounds from toxic newts are reported which commonly contain a cis‐fused bicyclic structure including a six‐membered cyclic guanidine. These structures could be biosynthetically derived from geranyl guanidine through oxidation, cyclization, and/or isomerization steps. LC–MS analysis confirmed the widespread distribution of the five novel compounds in toxic newt species. These results support the hypothesis that TTX is derived from a monoterpene.     

离子色谱法定量检测酒曲发酵液中的河豚毒素

建立了一种离子色谱定量检测酒曲发酵液中河豚毒素的分析方法。样品经乙腈(含0.1%磷酸)溶液提取和阳离子交换柱净化后,采用离子交换色谱柱分离和紫外检测。在优化的条件下,酒曲样品中的河豚毒素在10～100 mg/L内呈良好的线性关系(r2=0.997),加标回收率为90%～103%,相对标准偏差小于4.9%,检出限(信噪比为3)为1.0 mg/L。结果表明,该方法能达到定量检测的目的。将该方法应用于实际样品的检测,验证了方法的可靠性。河豚毒素初步降解实验发现,随着时间的推移,酒曲中河豚毒素的含量逐渐减少,表明酒曲发酵液对河豚毒素的降解效果显著。     

亲水液相色谱三重四极杆质谱联用法快速检测尿液和血浆中河豚毒素

建立了快速检测尿液和血浆中河豚毒素的亲水液相色谱三重四极杆质谱联用分析方法.样品经乙腈沉淀、TSK-gel Amide-80亲水色谱柱分离后,采用电喷雾串联质谱多反应监测(MRM)模式检测,基体匹配标准外标法定量.尿液和血浆样品的线性范围分别为3～500 μg/L和1～200 μg/L,加标回收率分别为96%～108%和100%～105%,相对标准偏差小于9%和16%(n=6),样品的检出限分别为1.0和0.3 μg/L(S/N=3).本方法简单、快速、灵敏、特异性强.     

Electrochemiluminescence Immunosensor Based on Functionalized Graphene/Fe3O4‐Au Magnetic Capture Probes for Ultrasensitive Detection of Tetrodotoxin

An ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) immunosensor for the detection of tetrodotoxin (TTX) is proposed, which are composed of the branched poly‐(ethylenimine) (BPEI) functionalized graphene (BGNs)/Fe₃O₄‐Au magnetic capture probes and luminol‐capped gold nanocomposites (luminol‐AuNPs) as the signal tag. Herein, a typical sandwich immunecomplex was constructed on the glassy carbon electrode. The BGNs/Fe₃O₄‐Au hybrids could efficiently conjugate primary antibody via the Au−S chemical bonds or Au−N chemical bonds and rapidly separate under external magnetic field. The introduction of BPEI to GO could enhance the luminol‐ECL intensity. Meanwhile, the multifunctional nanocomposites have been proved with good water‐solubility, excellent electron transfer, outstanding stability, etc. The luminescent luminol‐AuNPs, a high efficient electrochemiluminescence marker, can be assembled on the second antibody, which can produce the ECL signal to achieve the determination of TTX. This proposed ECL immunosensor with a linear range from 0.01–100 ng/mL can be applied in the detection of TTX in real samples with satisfactory results.