Isolation and characterization of a new less-toxic derivative of the Fusarium mycotoxin diacetoxyscirpenol after thermal treatment.

Trichothecenes are an important class of mycotoxins that act as potent protein synthesis inhibitors in eukaryotic organisms. The compound 4,15-diacetoxyscirpenol is highly toxic for plants and animals. Potatoes are especially prone to be contaminated with 4,15-diacetoxyscirpenol after infection with Fusarium sambucinum. In the current study, the reduction of 4,15-diacetoxyscirpenol during thermal treatment in aqueous solution was monitored. A new derivative was detected and named DASM I. After isolation, DAS-M1 was characterized with LC-HR-MS and LC-MS/MS and structurally elucidated with H-1, C-13, and 2D NMIR Potatoes were inoculated with F. sambucinum, and the infected potatoes were cooked at 100 or 121 degrees C, respectively. A reduction of 4,15-diacetoxyscirpenol from about 26% (1 h at 100 degrees C) to 100% (4 h at 121 degrees C) was detected by means of LC-MS/MS analysis. The effects of different pH values on the reduction of 4,15-diacetoxyscirpenol were investigated, showing higher conversion rates at more acidic pH values. In addition, the toxicity of 4,15-diacetoxyscirpenol and DAS-M1 was compared in vitro using a wheat germ transcription/translation assay and in vivo on Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The results show that the inhibitory effect of DAS-M1 on yeast growth is about 50 times lower and inhibition of protein synthesis is about 100 times lower than that of 4,15-diacetoxyscirpenol.