Effective determination method for a cyanobacterial neurotoxin, β-N-methylamino-l-alanine

Ultra-fast liquid chromatography detection of β-N-methylamine-l-alanine and its isomers in cycad seeds and cyanobacterial symbionts for neurotoxic risk assessment

The cyanobacterial neurotoxin has been implicated in various neurological disorders, posing a potential global health risk. Initial studies revealed alarming levels of β-N-methylamine-l-alanine (BMAA) in cyanobacteria, particularly in symbiotic species, suggesting widespread exposure. This study aimed to validate the efficacy of ultra-fast liquid chromatography (UFLC) technique for the detection and quantification of BMAA in various samples. Derivatizing agents, including 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate (AQC) and N-(2-aminoethyl) glycine (AEG), were synthesized and confirmed via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to enhance the detection of isomeric neurotoxic compounds. Among the samples analyzed cycad seeds, leaves, male cones, cyanobacterial symbionts, coralloid roots, and processed cycad seed flour BMAA and its isomers (2,4-diaminobutyric acid (2,4-DAB) and AEG) were detected in cycad seeds, cyanobacterial symbionts, and coralloid roots. The retention times for L-BMAA, AEG, and 2,4-DAB were 5.4, 5.6, and 6.1 min, respectively. Quantification revealed lower levels of these toxic isomers in seeds compared to high levels in cyanobacterial symbionts. Furthermore, UFLC methods effectively reduced the levels of neurotoxic compounds in cycad seeds to below detectable limits (6 × 103 ng/mL). This study underscores the utility of UFLC method combined with derivatization for the efficient detection and separation of L-BMAA and its isomers, providing a reliable approach for neurotoxin analysis.

A systematic review on analytical methods of the neurotoxin β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), and its causative microalgae and distribution in the environment

β-N-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), a neurotoxin produced by various microalgal groups, is associated with neurodegenerative diseases and is considered a major environmental factor potentially linked to sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This study systematically reviews the analytical methods used to study BMAA in publications from 2019 to the present. It also investigates the causative microalgae of BMAA and its geographical distributions in aquatic ecosystems based on studies conducted since 2003. A comprehensive search using the Web of Science database revealed that hydrolysis for extraction (67%), followed by quantification using LC-MS/MS (LC: 84%; MS/MS: 88%), is the most commonly employed method in BMAA analysis. Among analytical methods, RPLC-MS/MS had the highest percentage (88%) of BMAA-positive results and included a high number of quality control (QC) assessments. Various genera of cyanobacteria and diatoms have been reported to produce BMAA. The widespread geographical distribution of BMAA across diverse ecosystems highlights significant environmental and public health concerns. Notably, BMAA accumulation and biomagnification are likely more potent in marine or brackish water ecosystems than in freshwater ecosystems, potentially amplifying its ecological impacts. Future research should prioritize advanced, sensitive methods, particularly LC-MS/MS with as many QC assessments as possible, and should expand investigations to identify novel microalgal producers and previously uncharted geographical areas, with a special focus on marine or brackish water ecosystems. This effort will enhance our understanding of the environmental distribution and impacts of BMAA.

Matrix Effect of Diverse Biological Samples Extracted with Different Extraction Ratios on the Detection of β-N-Methylamino-L-Alanine by Two Common LC-MS/MS Analysis Methods

Neurotoxin β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is hypothesized as an important pathogenic factor for neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism-dementia complex (ALS-PDC). Comparative study on the accuracy of BMAA analyzed by the regular LC-MS/MS methods is still limited for different biological matrices. In this study, a free-BMAA sample of cyanobacterium and BMAA-containing positive samples of diatom, mussel, scallop, and oyster were extracted with varied extraction ratios (ER) ranging from 1:20 to 1:2000. These extracts were then purified by MCX cartridges. After SPE purification, these different biological samples were analyzed by two common LC-MS/MS analysis methods, a direct analysis without derivatization by a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC)-MS/MS and pre-column 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate (AQC) derivatization combined with a C18 column. The results suggested that the recoveries of BMAA spiked in the cyanobacterial sample were close to 100% in the total soluble form extracts with the ER of 1:100 (g/mL) and the precipitated bound form extracts with the ER of 1:500. The recommended ER for the precipitated bound form of BMAA in diatoms and the total soluble form of BMAA in mollusks are 1:500 and 1:50, respectively. The quantitative results determined by the AQC derivatization method were lower than those determined by the direct analysis of the HILIC method in diatom and mollusk samples. The results of the HILIC method without the derivatization process were closer to the true value of BMAA in cyanobacteria. This work contributes to the performance of the solid-phase extraction (SPE) purification protocol and the accuracy of BMAA analysis by LC-MS/MS in diverse biological samples.

The Proposed Neurotoxin β-N-Methylamino-l-Alanine (BMAA) Is Taken up through Amino-Acid Transport Systems in the Cyanobacterium Anabaena PCC 7120

Produced by cyanobacteria and some plants, BMAA is considered as an important environmental factor in the occurrence of some neurodegenerative diseases. Neither the underlying mechanism of its toxicity, nor its biosynthetic or metabolic pathway in cyanobacteria is understood. Interestingly, BMAA is found to be toxic to some cyanobacteria, making it possible to dissect the mechanism of BMAA metabolism by genetic approaches using these organisms. In this study, we used the cyanobacterium Anabaena PCC 7120 to isolate BMAA-resistant mutants. Following genomic sequencing, several mutations were mapped to two genes involved in amino acids transport, suggesting that BMAA was taken up through amino acid transporters. This conclusion was supported by the protective effect of several amino acids against BMAA toxicity. Furthermore, targeted inactivation of genes encoding different amino acid transport pathways conferred various levels of resistance to BMAA. One mutant inactivating all three major amino acid transport systems could no longer take up BMAA and gained full resistance to BMAA toxicity. Therefore, BMAA is a substrate of amino acid transporters, and cyanobacteria are interesting models for genetic analysis of BMAA transport and metabolism.

Impact factors on the production of β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) by cyanobacteria

Cyanobacteria produce a series of secondary metabolites, one of which is beta-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA). BMAA is considered to be the cause of human neurodegeneration. Compared with other cyanotoxins, the role of BMAA in cyanobacteria remains unclear. To investigate this question, six strains of cyanobacteria were cultured and tested in this experiment with an optimized and validated BMAA determination method. The results show that four strains can produce BMAA. The effects of nutrient levels on the production of BMAA by Anabaena sp. FACHB-418 were studied by changing the initial concentrations of nitrate (NaNO₃) and phosphate (K₂HPO₄) in mediums. Bound BMAA was detected in all samples and the concentrations were within 50-100 ng/g. Free BMAA was presence when the concentration of nitrogen was lower than 1.7 mg/L (121.43 μM). Free BMAA was released from the dead and ruptured cells during the cell decline period, so dissolved BMAA cannot be detectable in the adaptation and logarithmic periods, but could be abundant in the decline periods. Statistical analyses show that free BMAA concentrations were negatively correlated with nitrogen strongly (p = 2.334 × 10^-10 and r = -0.842), but positively correlated with phosphorus weakly (p = 0.016 and r = 0.405). Moreover, the results of culture experiments indicated that exogenous BMAA could inhibit the growth of cyanobacteria that cannot produce BMAA, and the effect was enhanced as the concentration of exogenous BMAA increased. This phenomenon implies that the production of BMAA may be the stress response by some cyanobacteria to low nitrogen conditions to kill other cyanobacteria, i.e., their competitors.

How the Neurotoxin β-N-Methylamino-l-Alanine Accumulates in Bivalves: Distribution of the Different Accumulation Fractions among Organs

The environmental neurotoxin β-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) may represent a risk for human health. BMAA accumulates in freshwater and marine organisms consumed by humans. However, few data are available about the kinetics of BMAA accumulation and detoxification in exposed organisms, as well as the organ distribution and the fractions in which BMAA is present in tissues (free, soluble bound or precipitated bound cellular fractions). Here, we exposed the bivalve mussel Dreissena polymorpha to 7.5 µg of dissolved BMAA/mussel/3 days for 21 days, followed by 21 days of depuration in clear water. At 1, 3, 8, 14 and 21 days of exposure and depuration, the hemolymph and organs (digestive gland, the gills, the mantle, the gonad and muscles/foot) were sampled. Total BMAA as well as free BMAA, soluble bound and precipitated bound BMAA were quantified by tandem mass spectrometry. Free and soluble bound BMAA spread throughout all tissues from the first day of exposure to the last day of depuration, without a specific target organ. However, precipitated bound BMAA was detected only in muscles and foot from the last day of exposure to day 8 of depuration, at a lower concentration compared to free and soluble bound BMAA. In soft tissues (digestive gland, gonad, gills, mantle and muscles/foot), BMAA mostly accumulated as a free molecule and in the soluble bound fraction, with variations occurring between the two fractions among tissues and over time. The results suggest that the assessment of bivalve contamination by BMAA may require the quantification of total BMAA in whole individuals when possible.

A systematic review of analytical methods for the detection and quantification of β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA)

Neurodegenerative diseases are influenced by environmental factors such as exposure to toxins including the cyanotoxin β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) that can bioaccumulate in common food sources such as fish, mussels and crabs. Accurate and precise analytical methods are needed to detect and quantify BMAA to minimize human health risks. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the methods used for BMAA analysis from 2003 to 2019 and to evaluate the reported performance characteristics for each method to determine the consensus data for each analytical approach and different sample matrices. Detailed searches of the database Web of Science™ (WoS) were performed between August 21st, 2018 and April 5th, 2019. Eligible studies included analytical methods for the detection and quantification of BMAA in cyanobacteria and bioaccumulated BMAA in higher trophic levels, in phytoplankton and zooplankton and in human tissues and fluids. This systematic review has limitations in that only the English language literature is included and it did not include standard operating protocols nor any method validation data that have not been made public. We identified 148 eligible studies, of which a positive result for BMAA in one or more samples analyzed was reported in 84% (125 out of 148) of total studies, 57% of HILIC studies, 92% of RPLC studies and 71% of other studies. The largest discrepancy between different methods arose from the analysis of cyanobacteria samples, where BMAA was detected in 95% of RPLC studies but only in 25% of HILIC studies. Without sufficient published validation of each method's performance characteristics, it is difficult to establish each method as fit for purpose for each sample matrix. The importance of establishing methods as appropriate for their intended use is evidenced by the inconsistent reporting of BMAA across environmental samples, despite its prevalence in diverse ecosystems and food webs.

A Single Laboratory Validation for the Analysis of Underivatized β-N-Methylamino-L-Alanine (BMAA)

β-N-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is a non-protein amino acid produced by cyanobacteria that can accumulate in ecosystems and food webs. Human exposure to cyanobacterial and algal blooms may be a risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Analytical chemists have struggled to find reliable methods for BMAA analysis in complex sample matrices. Analysis of BMAA is complicated by at least 3 naturally occurring isomers: N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine (AEG), 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DAB), and β-aminomethyl-L-alanine (BAMA). More than 350 publications have reported detection and quantification of BMAA and its isomers, but varying results have led to controversy in the literature. The objective of this study was to perform a single laboratory validation (SLV) of a frequently published method for BMAA analysis using a ZIC-HILIC column. We investigated the selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, and sensitivity of the method and our data show that this HILIC method fails many of the criteria for a validated method. The method fails the criterion for selectivity as the chromatography does not separate BMAA from its isomer BAMA. Sensitivity of the method greatly decreased over the experimental period and it demonstrated a higher limit of detection (LOD) (7.5 pg on column) and a higher lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) (30 pg on column) than other published validated methods. The method demonstrated poor precision of repeated injections of standards of BMAA with % relative standard deviation (%RSD) values that ranged from 37 to 107% while HorRat values for BMAA had a fail rate of 80% and BAMA had a fail rate of 73%. No HorRat values between 0.5 and 2 were found for repeated injections of standards of AEG and DAB. Recovery of ¹³C₃,¹⁵N₂-BMAA in a cyanobacterial matrix was < 10% in experiments and we were also unable to accurately detect other protein amino acids including methionine, cysteine, or alanine, indicating matrix effects. The results of this study demonstrate that the ZIC-HILIC column is not fit for purpose for the analysis of BMAA in cyanobacterial matrices and further provides explanations for the high level of negative results reported by researchers using this method.

Prevalence of β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) and its isomers in freshwater cyanobacteria isolated from eastern Australia

Environmental exposure to the amino acid β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) was linked to the high incidence of neurodegenerative disease first reported on the island of Guam in the 1940s and has more recently been implicated in an increased incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in parts of the USA. BMAA has been shown to be produced by a range of cyanobacteria and some marine diatoms and dinoflagellates in different parts of the world. BMAA is commonly found with two of its constitutional isomers: 2,4- diaminobutyric acid (2,4-DAB) and N-(2-aminoethyl) glycine (AEG). These isomers are thought to be co-produced by the same organisms that produce BMAA and MS/MS analysis following LC separation can add an additional level of specificity over LC-FL. Although the presence of BMAA and 2,4-DAB in surface scum samples from several sites in Australia has been reported, which Australian cyanobacterial species are capable of BMAA, 2,4-DAB and AEG production remains unknown. The aims of the present studies were to identify some of the cyanobacterial genera or species that can produce BMAA, 2,4-DAB and AEG in freshwater cyanobacteria blooms in eastern Australia. Eleven freshwater sites were sampled and from these, 19 single-species cyanobacterial cultures were established. Amino acids were extracted from cyanobacterial cultures and analysed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. BMAA was detected in 17 of the 19 isolates, 2,4-DAB was detected in all isolates, and AEG was detected in 18 of the 19 isolates, showing the prevalence of these amino acids in Australian freshwater cyanobacteria. Concentrations of all three isomers in Australian cyanobacteria were generally higher than the concentrations reported elsewhere. This study confirmed the presence of BMAA and its isomers in cyanobacteria isolated from eastern Australian freshwater systems, and determined which Australian cyanobacterial genera or species were capable of producing them when cultured under laboratory conditions.

Neurotoxin BMAA and its isomeric amino acids in cyanobacteria and cyanobacteria-based food supplements

Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic microorganisms distributed globally in aquatic and terrestrial environments. They are also industrially cultivated to be used as dietary supplements, as they have a high nutritional value; however, they are also known to produce a wide range of toxic secondary metabolites, called cyanotoxins. BMAA (β-methylamino-l-alanine) and its most common structural isomers, DAB (2,4-diaminobutyric acid) and AEG (N-2-aminoethylglycine) produced by cyanobacteria, are non-proteinogenic amino acids that have been associated with neurodegenerative diseases. A possible route of exposure to those amino acids is through consumption of food supplements based on cyanobacteria. The review critically discusses existing reports regarding the occurrence of BMAA, DAB and AEG in cyanobacteria and cyanobacteria-based food supplements. It is shown that inconsistencies in reported results could be attributed to performance of different methods of extraction and analysis applied and in ambiguities regarding determination of soluble and bound fractions of the compounds. The critical aspect of this review aims to grow awareness of human intake of neurotoxic amino acids, while results presented in literature concerning dietary supplements aim to promote further research, quality control as well as development of guidelines for cyanotoxins in food products.

A critical review of the postulated role of the non-essential amino acid, β-N-methylamino-L-alanine, in neurodegenerative disease in humans

The compound BMAA (β-N-methylamino-L-alanine) has been postulated to play a significant role in four serious neurological human diseases: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/Parkinsonism Dementia Complex (ALS/PDC) found on Guam, and ALS, Parkinsonism, and dementia that occur globally. ALS/PDC with symptoms of all three diseases first came to the attention of the scientific community during and after World War II. It was initially associated with cycad flour used for food because BMAA is a product of symbiotic cycad root-dwelling cyanobacteria. Human consumption of flying foxes that fed on cycad seeds was later suggested as a source of BMAA on Guam and a cause of ALS/PDC. Subsequently, the hypothesis was expanded to include a causative role for BMAA in other neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD) through exposures attributed to proximity to freshwaters and/or consumption of seafood due to its purported production by most species of cyanobacteria. The hypothesis that BMAA is the critical factor in the genesis of these neurodegenerative diseases received considerable attention in the medical, scientific, and public arenas. This review examines the history of ALS/PDC and the BMAA-human disease hypotheses; similarities and differences between ALS/PDC and the other diseases with similar symptomologies; the relationship of ALS/PDC to other similar diseases, studies of BMAA-mediated effects in lab animals, inconsistencies and data gaps in the hypothesis; and other compounds and agents that were suggested as the cause of ALS/PDC on Guam. The review concludes that the hypothesis of a causal BMAA neurodegenerative disease relationship is not supported by existing data.

Assessment of non-derivatized β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) neurotoxin in free form in urine of patients with nonspecific neurological symptoms

The beta-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) is a non-proteinogenic amino acid discussed to be produced by cyanobacteria forming harmful blooms. Since BMAA is suspected etiological agent in neurodegenerative diseases, there is a need to study and validate whether and in what concentrations can BMAA be present in human tissues. The aim of the present study was to validate analytical and extraction procedures for quantification of non-derivatized BMAA in the urine using liquid chromatography and commercial ELISA Kit. The study was focused on BMAA in different forms - dissolved, protein associated and total. The validated protocol included SPE followed by HILIC MS/MS for analyses of non-derivatized free form of BMAA with a limit of quantification 20 ng/mL. The methods for other BMAA forms (i.e. protein-associated and total) were also assessed but high matrix interferences did not allow their implementation. The method was used for analyses of free BMAA in 23 urine samples from healthy volunteers and psychiatric patients suffering from nonspecific neurological symptoms. Traces of BMAA were suspectedly detected in a single urine sample but they were not unequivocally proved according to all conservative analytical criteria. BMAA was also not confirmed in a repeatedly collected sample from the same person. The evaluated commercial BMAA ELISA Kit (Abraxis) was not suitable for determination of BMAA in extracted urine samples because of systematically highly false positive results. In agreement with recent findings, analyses of BMAA appear to methodologically challenging, and further research on BMAA in human tissues (or its precursors with potency to form BMAA under natural conditions or - eventually - during sample processing) is needed to clarify its potential ethiological role in neurodegenerative diseases.

β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is not found in the brains of patients with confirmed Alzheimer's disease

Controversy surrounds the proposed hypothesis that exposure to β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) could play a role in various neurodegenerative conditions including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here we present the results of the most comprehensive scientific study on BMAA detection ever undertaken on brain samples from patients pathologically confirmed to have suffered from AD, and those from healthy volunteers. Following the full validation of a highly accurate and sensitive mass spectrometric method, no trace of BMAA was detected in the diseased brain or in the control specimens. This contradicts the findings of other reports and calls into question the significance of this compound in neurodegenerative disease. We have attempted to explain the potential causes of misidentification of BMAA in these studies.

Overview of the potent cyanobacterial neurotoxin β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) and its analytical determination

Blue-green algae are responsible for the production of different types of toxins which can be neurotoxic, hepatotoxic, cytotoxic and dermatotoxic and that can affect both aquatic and terrestrial life. Since its discovery the neurotoxin β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) has been a cause for concern, being associated with the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/Parkinsonism-dementia complex (ALS/PDC). The initial focus was on Guam where it was observed that a high number of people were affected by the ALS/PDC complex. Subsequently, researchers were surprised to find levels of BMAA in post mortem brains from Canadian patients who also suffered from ALS/PDC. Recent research demonstrates that BMAA has been found at different levels in the aquatic food web in the brackish waters of the Baltic Sea. There is emerging evidence to suggest that sand-borne algae from Qatar can also contain BMAA. Furthermore, there is now concern because BMAA has been found not only in warmer regions of the world but also in temperate regions like Europe. The aim of this review is to focus on the methods of extraction and analysis of the neurotoxic non-protein amino acid BMAA. We also consider the neurotoxicity, aetiology, and diverse sources and routes of exposure to BMAA. In recent years, different methods have been developed for the analysis of BMAA. Some of these use HPLC-FD, UPLC-UV, UPLC-MS and LC-MS/MS using samples that have been derivatised or underivatised. To date the LC-MS/MS approach is the most widely used analytical technique as it is the most selective and sensitive method for BMAA determination.

A new method for analysis of underivatized free β-methylamino-alanine: Validation and method comparison

A new method was developed for analysis of free β-Methylamino-alanine (BMAA) in biological matrices. The method is based on direct analysis of the underivatized molecule, using an amide column for separation by Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography (HILIC) and detection by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) using a deuterium labeled internal standard. The use of Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) combined with MS/MS detection allowed for high chromatographic resolution and a low limit of detection (0.025 μg/g wet weight (ww) in mussels). The method was validated by analyzing spiked blank mussels from the Baltic Sea (0.15-4.4 μg/g (ww), trueness 99%-105%, RSD 2%-8%). An inter-laboratory comparative analysis of extracts of mussel was performed. The mussels were extracted according to an established protocol for analysis of free BMAA, and the extracts were then analyzed in parallel by the new method and a validated procedure based on detection of BMAA derivatized with dansyl chloride. Both methods detected BMAA in similar concentrations. Thus, derivatization with dansyl chloride did not influence the results compared to direct detection. The new method presents an alternative to the commonly applied derivatization step, and is proved through validation and method comparison to reliably identify and quantify free BMAA at low concentration levels.

Assessment of the non-protein amino acid BMAA in Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis after feeding with estuarine cyanobacteria

To determine whether 2-amino-3-methylaminopropanoic acid (BMAA) could be taken up by marine organisms from seawater or their diet mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis, collected from the North Atlantic Portuguese shore, were exposed to seawater doped with BMAA standard (for up to 48 h) or fed with cyanobacteria (for up to 15 days). Mussels were able to uptake BMAA when exposed to seawater. Mussels fed with cyanobacteria Synechocystis salina showed a rise in BMAA concentration during feeding and a decline in concentration during the subsequent depuration period. Cells from the gills and hepatopancreas of mussels fed with S. salina showed lessened metabolic activity in mussels fed for longer periods of time. A hot acidic digestion (considered to account for total BMAA) was compared with a proteolytic digestion, using pepsin, trypsin and chymotrypsin. The latter was able to extract from mussels approximately 30% of total BMAA. Implications for BMAA trophic transfers in marine ecosystems are discussed.

Beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine: LC-MS/MS optimization, screening of cyanobacterial strains and occurrence in shellfish from Thau, a French Mediterranean lagoon

β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) is a neurotoxic non-protein amino acid suggested to be involved in neurodegenerative diseases. It was reported to be produced by cyanobacteria, but also found in edible aquatic organisms, thus raising concern of a widespread human exposure. However, the chemical analysis of BMAA and its isomers are controversial, mainly due to the lack of selectivity of the analytical methods. Using factorial design, we have optimized the chromatographic separation of underivatized analogues by a hydrophilic interaction chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS/MS) method. A combination of an effective solid phase extraction (SPE) clean-up, appropriate chromatographic resolution and the use of specific mass spectral transitions allowed for the development of a highly selective and sensitive analytical procedure to identify and quantify BMAA and its isomers (in both free and total form) in cyanobacteria and mollusk matrices (LOQ of 0.225 and 0.15 µg/g dry weight, respectively). Ten species of cyanobacteria (six are reported to be BMAA producers) were screened with this method, and neither free nor bound BMAA could be found, while both free and bound DAB were present in almost all samples. Mussels and oysters collected in 2009 in the Thau Lagoon, France, were also screened, and bound BMAA and its two isomers, DAB and AEG, were observed in all samples (from 0.6 to 14.4 µg/g DW), while only several samples contained quantifiable free BMAA.

Presence of the neurotoxin BMAA in aquatic ecosystems: what do we really know?

The neurotoxin β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) is suspected to play a role in the neurological diseases amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. BMAA production by cyanobacteria has been reported and contact with cyanobacteria infested waters or consumption of aquatic organisms are possible pathways to human exposure. However, there is little consensus regarding whether BMAA is present in cyanobacteria or not, and if so, at what concentrations. The aim of this review is to indicate the current state of knowledge on the presence of BMAA in aquatic ecosystems. Some studies have convincingly shown that BMAA can be present in aquatic samples at the µg/g dry weight level, which is around the detection limit of some equally credible studies in which no BMAA was detected. However, for the majority of the reviewed articles, it was unclear whether BMAA was correctly identified, either because inadequate analytical methods were used, or because poor reporting of analyses made it impossible to verify the results. Poor analysis, reporting and prolific errors have shaken the foundations of BMAA research. First steps towards estimation of human BMAA exposure are to develop and use selective, inter-laboratory validated methods and to correctly report the analytical work.

Diatoms: a novel source for the neurotoxin BMAA in aquatic environments

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's disease is a neurological disorder linked to environmental exposure to a non-protein amino acid, β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA). The only organisms reported to be BMAA-producing, are cyanobacteria--prokaryotic organisms. In this study, we demonstrate that diatoms--eukaryotic organisms--also produce BMAA. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry revealed the occurrence of BMAA in six investigated axenic diatom cultures. BMAA was also detected in planktonic field samples collected on the Swedish west coast that display an overrepresentation of diatoms relative to cyanobacteria. Given the ubiquity of diatoms in aquatic environments and their central role as primary producers and the main food items of zooplankton, the use of filter and suspension feeders as livestock fodder dramatically increases the risk of human exposure to BMAA-contaminated food.

State of knowledge and concerns on cyanobacterial blooms and cyanotoxins

Cyanobacteria are ubiquitous microorganisms considered as important contributors to the formation of Earth's atmosphere and nitrogen fixation. However, they are also frequently associated with toxic blooms. Indeed, the wide range of hepatotoxins, neurotoxins and dermatotoxins synthesized by these bacteria is a growing environmental and public health concern. This paper provides a state of the art on the occurrence and management of harmful cyanobacterial blooms in surface and drinking water, including economic impacts and research needs. Cyanobacterial blooms usually occur according to a combination of environmental factors e.g., nutrient concentration, water temperature, light intensity, salinity, water movement, stagnation and residence time, as well as several other variables. These environmental variables, in turn, have promoted the evolution and biosynthesis of strain-specific, gene-controlled metabolites (cyanotoxins) that are often harmful to aquatic and terrestrial life, including humans. Cyanotoxins are primarily produced intracellularly during the exponential growth phase. Release of toxins into water can occur during cell death or senescence but can also be due to evolutionary-derived or environmentally-mediated circumstances such as allelopathy or relatively sudden nutrient limitation. Consequently, when cyanobacterial blooms occur in drinking water resources, treatment has to remove both cyanobacteria (avoiding cell lysis and subsequent toxin release) and aqueous cyanotoxins previously released. Cells are usually removed with limited lysis by physical processes such as clarification or membrane filtration. However, aqueous toxins are usually removed by both physical retention, through adsorption on activated carbon or reverse osmosis, and chemical oxidation, through ozonation or chlorination. While the efficient oxidation of the more common cyanotoxins (microcystin, cylindrospermopsin, anatoxin and saxitoxin) has been extensively reported, the chemical and toxicological characterization of their by-products requires further investigation. In addition, future research should also investigate the removal of poorly considered cyanotoxins (β-methylamino-alanine, lyngbyatoxin or aplysiatoxin) as well as the economic impact of blooms.

Validation of the analytical procedure for the determination of the neurotoxin β-N-methylamino-L-alanine in complex environmental samples

The neurotoxic l-2-amino-3-methylaminopropionic acid (BMAA) was hypothesized to be involved in sporadic cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Studies highlighting a possible implication of environmental factors in the incidence of sporadic ALS have become more numerous over recent years. Over the past years, the most widely used method for quantifying BMAA was based on the derivatization of this polar and basic molecule with a fluorescent compound (6-aminoquinolonyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl, 6-AQC). This derivatization allows the retention of the conjugate by reversed-phase liquid chromatography and its detection by fluorescence. Nevertheless, recent findings have shown that this method applied to complex samples may cause false positive responses. We therefore developed an analytical procedure for the determination of underivatized BMAA at trace level in complex environmental matrices (river water, cyanobacteria and biofilm) using solid-phase extraction (SPE) based on mixed mode sorbent to concentrate and clean up real samples. Analyzes were performed by hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) coupled to electrospray ionization and tandem mass spectrometry used in multiple reaction monitoring scan mode. Analytical procedures were validated for the different natural samples using the total error approach. BMAA can be quantified by these reliable and highly selective analytical methods in a range of only a few ng mL(-1) in river water and a few ng mg(-1) dry weight in cyanobacteria and biofilm matrices.

Good mass spectrometry and its place in good science

The mass spectrometry community has expanded as instruments became more powerful, user-friendly, affordable and readily available. This opens up opportunities for novice users to perform high impact research, using highly advanced instrumentation. This introductory tutorial is targeted at the novice user working in a research setting. It aims to offer the benefit of other people's experiences and to help newcomers avoid known pitfalls and problematic issues. It discusses some of the essential features of sound analytical chemistry and highlights the need to use validated analytical methods that provide high quality results along with a measure of their uncertainty. Examples are used to illustrate potential pitfalls and their consequences.

Elucidation of matrix effects and performance of solid-phase extraction for LC-MS/MS analysis of β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DAB) neurotoxins in cyanobacteria

A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) was developed for the analysis of neurotoxins β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) and 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DAB), using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) scan mode. Oasis-MCX and Strata-X-C polymeric cation-exchange cartridges were used to clean extracts of cyanobacterial cultures, including two strains of Microcystis aeruginosa and one strain of Nostoc sp. The performance of the solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges for BMAA and DAB were evaluated using mixed standards and spiked cyanobacterial extracts, which demonstrated recoveries of BMAA and DAB ranging from 66% to 91%. Matrix effects in LC-MS/MS were evaluated, and while there was no effect on BMAA quantitation, suppression of DAB was found. Full scan (Q1) and enhanced product ion (EPI) monitoring showed that the DAB suppression may be due to closely eluting compounds, including lysine, histidine, arginine and three other compounds with [M + H](+) m/z of 88, 164 and 191. The procedures developed allow the sensitive and effective analysis of trace BMAA and DAB levels in cyanobacteria. While DAB was confirmed to be present, no BMAA was found in the cyanobacterial samples tested in the present study.

Distinguishing the cyanobacterial neurotoxin β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) from other diamino acids

β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is produced by diverse taxa of cyanobacteria, and has been detected by many investigators who have searched for it in cyanobacterial blooms, cultures and collections. Although BMAA is distinguishable from proteinogenic amino acids and its isomer 2,4-DAB using standard chromatographic and mass spectroscopy techniques routinely used for the analysis of amino acids, we studied whether BMAA could be reliably distinguished from other diamino acids, particularly 2,6-diaminopimelic acid which has been isolated from the cell walls of many bacterial species. We used HPLC-FD, UHPLC-UV, UHPLC-MS, and triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) to differentiate BMAA from the diamino acids 2,6-diaminopimelic acid, N-2(amino)ethylglycine, lysine, ornithine, 2,4-diaminosuccinic acid, homocystine, cystine, tryptophan, as well as other amino acids including asparagine, glutamine, and methionine methylsulfonium.

Prominent human health impacts from several marine microbes: history, ecology, and public health implications

This paper overviews several examples of important public health impacts by marine microbes and directs readers to the extensive literature germane to these maladies. These examples include three types of dinoflagellates (Gambierdiscus spp., Karenia brevis, and Alexandrium fundyense), BMAA-producing cyanobacteria, and infectious microbes. The dinoflagellates are responsible for ciguatera fish poisoning, neurotoxic shellfish poisoning, and paralytic shellfish poisoning, respectively, that have plagued coastal populations over time. Research interest on the potential for marine cyanobacteria to contribute BMAA into human food supplies has been derived by BMAA's discovery in cycad seeds and subsequent implication as the putative cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism dementia complex among the Chamorro people of Guam. Recent UPLC/MS analyses indicate that recent reports that BMAA is prolifically distributed among marine cyanobacteria at high concentrations may be due to analyte misidentification in the analytical protocols being applied for BMAA. Common infectious microbes (including enterovirus, norovirus, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella, Staphylococcus aureus, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia) cause gastrointestinal and skin-related illness. These microbes can be introduced from external human and animal sources, or they can be indigenous to the marine environment.

Transfer of a cyanobacterial neurotoxin within a temperate aquatic ecosystem suggests pathways for human exposure

beta-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), a neurotoxic nonprotein amino acid produced by most cyanobacteria, has been proposed to be the causative agent of devastating neurodegenerative diseases on the island of Guam in the Pacific Ocean. Because cyanobacteria are widespread globally, we hypothesized that BMAA might occur and bioaccumulate in other ecosystems. Here we demonstrate, based on a recently developed extraction and HPLC-MS/MS method and long-term monitoring of BMAA in cyanobacterial populations of a temperate aquatic ecosystem (Baltic Sea, 2007-2008), that BMAA is biosynthesized by cyanobacterial genera dominating the massive surface blooms of this water body. BMAA also was found at higher concentrations in organisms of higher trophic levels that directly or indirectly feed on cyanobacteria, such as zooplankton and various vertebrates (fish) and invertebrates (mussels, oysters). Pelagic and benthic fish species used for human consumption were included. The highest BMAA levels were detected in the muscle and brain of bottom-dwelling fishes. The discovery of regular biosynthesis of the neurotoxin BMAA in a large temperate aquatic ecosystem combined with its possible transfer and bioaccumulation within major food webs, some ending in human consumption, is alarming and requires attention.

Cyanobacteria, neurotoxins and water resources: are there implications for human neurodegenerative disease?

Cyanobacteria are cosmopolitan microbes that inhabit marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments. Under favourable conditions in waterbodies, they can form massive populations (blooms and scums), which present hazards to human and animal health. Such cyanobacteria often contain a variety of toxic substances (cyanotoxins) that can exist as both cell-associated and free forms in the surrounding water. Some cyanotoxins are highly neurotoxic and act through a variety of mechanisms. Recent findings of the production of the neurotoxin beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) by cyanobacteria in aquatic environments, and of BMAA in brain and cerebrospinal fluid samples of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease victims, raises the possibility that people may be exposed to waterborne BMAA of cyanobacterial origin and that this may contribute to human neurodegenerative disease. An understanding of the risks presented by waterborne BMAA and of available mitigation strategies to reduce this potential exposure is needed.

Determination of the neurotoxins BMAA (beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine) and DAB (alpha-,gamma-diaminobutyric acid) by LC-MSMS in Dutch urban waters with cyanobacterial blooms

We aimed to determine concentrations of the neurotoxic amino acids beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) and alpha-,gamma-diaminobutyric acid (DAB) in mixed species scum material from Dutch urban waters that suffer from cyanobacterial blooms. BMAA and DAB were analysed in scum material without derivatization by LC-MSMS (liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry) using hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC). Our method showed high selectivity, good recovery of added compounds after sample extraction (86% for BMAA and 85% for DAB), acceptable recovery after sample hydrolysation (70% for BMAA and 56% for DAB) and acceptable precision. BMAA and DAB could be detected at an injected amount of 0.34 pmol. Free BMAA was detected in nine of the 21 sampled locations with a maximum concentration of 42 microg/g DW. Free DAB was detected in two locations with a maximum concentration of 4 microg/g DW. No protein-associated forms were detected. This study is the first to detect underivatized BMAA in cyanobacterial scum material using LC-MSMS. Ubiquity of BMAA in cyanobacteria scums of Dutch urban waters could not be confirmed, where BMAA and DAB concentrations were relatively low; however, co-occurrence with other cyanobacterial neurotoxins might pose a serious health risk including chronic effects from low-level doses.

Beyond Guam: the cyanobacteria/BMAA hypothesis of the cause of ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases

Excitement about neurogenetics in the last two decades has diverted attention from environmental causes of sporadic ALS. Fifty years ago endemic foci of ALS with a frequency one hundred times that in the rest of the world attracted attention since they offered the possibility of finding the cause for non-endemic ALS throughout the world. Research on Guam suggested that ALS, Parkinson's disease and dementia (the ALS/PDC complex) was due to a neurotoxic non-protein amino acid, beta-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), in the seeds of the cycad Cycas micronesica. Recent discoveries that found that BMAA is produced by symbiotic cyanobacteria within specialized roots of the cycads; that the concentration of protein-bound BMAA is up to a hundred-fold greater than free BMAA in the seeds and flour; that various animals forage on the seeds (flying foxes, pigs, deer), leading to biomagnification up the food chain in Guam; and that protein-bound BMAA occurs in the brains of Guamanians dying of ALS/PDC (average concentration 627 microg/g, 5 mM) but not in control brains have rekindled interest in BMAA as a possible trigger for Guamanian ALS/PDC. Perhaps most intriguing is the finding that BMAA is present in brain tissues of North American patients who had died of Alzheimer's disease (average concentration 95 microg/g, 0.8mM); this suggests a possible etiological role for BMAA in non-Guamanian neurodegenerative diseases. Cyanobacteria are ubiquitous throughout the world, so it is possible that all humans are exposed to low amounts of cyanobacterial BMAA, that protein-bound BMAA in human brains is a reservoir for chronic neurotoxicity, and that cyanobacterial BMAA is a major cause of progressive neurodegenerative diseases including ALS worldwide. Though Montine et al., using different HPLC method and assay techniques from those used by Cox and colleagues, were unable to reproduce the findings of Murch et al., Mash and colleagues using the original techniques of Murch et al. have recently confirmed the presence of protein-bound BMAA in the brains of North American patients dying with ALS and Alzheimer's disease (concentrations >100 microg/g) but not in the brains of non-neurological controls or Huntington's disease. We hypothesize that individuals who develop neurodegenerations may have a genetic susceptibility because of inability to prevent BMAA accumulation in brain proteins and that the particular pattern of neurodegeneration that develops depends on the polygenic background of the individual.

Liquid chromatographic determination of the cyanobacterial toxin beta-n-methylamino-L-alanine in algae food supplements, freshwater fish, and bottled water

Beta-N-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is a neurotoxin originally found in cycad seeds and now known to be produced by many species of freshwater and marine cyanobacteria. We developed a method for its determination in blue-green algae (BGA) food supplements, freshwater fish, and bottled water by using a strong cation-exchange, solid-phase extraction column for cleanup after 0.3 M trichloroacetic acid extraction of BGA supplements and fish. Bottled water was applied directly onto the solid-phase extraction column. For analysis of carbonated water, sonication and pH adjustment to 1.5 were needed. To determine protein-bound BMAA, the protein pellet left after extraction of the BGA supplement and fish was hydrolyzed by boiling with 6 M hydrochloric acid; BMAA was cleaned up on a C18 column and a strong cation-exchange, solid-phase extraction column. Determination of BMAA was by liquid chromatography of the fluorescent derivative formed with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate. The method was validated by recovery experiments using spiking levels of 1.0 to 10 microg/g for BGA supplements, 0.5 to 5.0 microg/g for fish, and 0.002 microg/g for bottled water; mean recoveries were in the range of 67 to 89% for BGA supplements and fish, and 59 to 92% for bottled water. Recoveries of BMAA from spiked extracts of hydrolyzed protein from BGA supplements and fish ranged from 66 to 83%. The cleanup developed provides a useful method for surveying foods and supplements for BMAA and protein-bound BMAA.

Beta-methylamino-L-alanine analysis by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry with iTRAQ as the derivative

Amino acid BMMA is produced by cyanobacteria and has been linked to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. We developed a method for quantitative analysis of BMAA in biological samples and plant extracts. The method is utilizing iTRAQ and LC-MS/MS detection using multiple reaction monitoring mode. The method uses 50 microL of sample and has a limit of quantitation of 300 ng mL(-1), within-run run imprecision below 1%. Using this method we analyzed human serum samples, human cerebrospinal fluid samples and extract of the cycad seed. No BMAA could be detected in the human samples. Content of BMAA in the seed was 50 mg kg(-1).