Interaction of Fusarium mycotoxins, fusaproliferin and fumonisin B-1, withDNA studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) in negative ion mode was used to monitor the possible noncovalent adduct formations between DNA ana logue oligonucleotides and two Fusarium mycotoxins, fumonisin B-1 and fusap roliferin. Using mild experimental ESI conditions specific noncovalent inte ractions were detected between both single- and double-stranded model oligo nucleotides and fusaproliferin with 1:1 stoichiometry. Similar association complexes were observed for the deacetyl derivative of fusaproliferin. Ther e were no peaks due to adduct formation present in the mass spectra of fumo nisin B1, incubated with oligonucleotides in a wide concentration range, su ggesting no specific interaction for this molecule. In a competitive comple xation reaction, another mycotoxin, the beauvericin, forms more stable asso ciation complex with DNA than fusaproliferin. These findings can be of use in the understanding of molecular mechanisms of action during apoptosis and can be correlated with the teratogenic effect of fusaproliferin.