Cyanotoxin Standards

Cyanotoxins are toxic bioactive compounds that are released from planktonic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) under certain conditions.1 This can result in harmful algal blooms (HABs) that contaminate water systems and bioaccumulate in aquatic vertebrates/invertebrates. There are several classes of cyanotoxins with varying degrees of physicochemical properties and toxicity (e.g., microcystins are established nephrotoxins, β-N-methylamino-L-alanine is a known neurotoxin).2 Despite the risks, cyanotoxins have not been historically regulated, but have been nonetheless identified as microbial contaminant candidates by the US EPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). In an effort to promote regular testing of cyanotoxins in water samples, the US EPA has established a number of analytical methods to include the monitoring of cyanotoxins under the fourth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 4).3

CIL is pleased to offer a collection of highly characterized cyanotoxins for research testing purposes. These currently include four microcystins (MC-LR, -RR, -YR, and -LA)4 and β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA),5 in their labeled and unlabeled forms.

Cyanotoxins

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Figure. Chemical structure of Spotlight-featured cyanotoxins – MC in a) and BMAA in b). The MC structure is cyclo-(D-Ala-L-X-D-isoMeAsp-L-Z-Adda-D-isoGlu-Mdha), where D-isoMeAsp is D-erythro-β-methyl-aspartic acid, Adda is 3-amino-9-methoxy-2,6,8-trimethyl-10-phenyl-4,6-decadienoic acid, and MDha is N-methyl-dehydroalanine.6 The X and Z positions are variable L-amino acids that determine the suffix in the MC nomenclature (e.g., MC-LR has L at X and R at Z).

Product category

Isotope Label

Isotopic Enrichment Range

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Product Form

Product Form 2

References

1. Dittmann, E.; Fewer, D.P.; Neilan, B.A. 2013. Cyanobacterial toxins: biosynthetic routes and evolutionary roots. FEMS Microbiol Rev, 37(1), 23-43.
2. Merel, S.; Walker, D.; Chicana, R.; et al. 2013. State of knowledge and concerns on cyanobacterial blooms and cyanotoxins. Environ Int, 59, 303-327.
3. Monitoring unregulated drinking water contaminants: fourth unregulated contaminant monitoring rule. Read more.
4. Stewart, A.K.; Strangman, W.K.; Percy, A.J.; Wright, J.L.C. 2018. The biosynthesis of 15N-labeled microcystins and the comparative MS/MS fragmentation of natural abundance and their 15N-labeled congeners using LC-MS/MS. Toxicon, 144, 91-102.
5. Beri, J.; Kirkwood, K.I.; Muddiman, D.C.; Bereman, M.S. 2018. A novel integrated strategy for the detection and quantification of the neurotoxin β-N-methylamino-L-alanine in environmental samples. Anal Bioanal Chem, 410(10), 2597-2605.
6. Rastogi, R.P.; Rajeshwar, P.S.; Incharoensakdi, A. 2014. The cyanotoxin-microcystins: current overview. Rev Environ Sci Bio/Technol, 13(2), 215-249.