Sensors, Vol. 20, Pages 507: A Carbamoylase-Based Bioassay for the Detection of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning Toxins

Sensors, Vol. 20, Pages 507: A Carbamoylase-Based Bioassay for the Detection of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning Toxins Sensors doi: 10.3390/s20020507 Authors: Mariana Raposo Maria João Botelho Sara T. Costa Maria Teresa S. R. Gomes Alisa Rudnitskaya Out of control proliferation of toxic phytoplankton, called harmful algal blooms (HABs), have a significant economic impact on bivalve aquaculture and harvesting in coastal waters. Some phytotoxins, such as paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs), are of concern due to the life-threatening symptoms they can cause. Development of rapid and low-cost screening tools would be a welcome addition to the laboratory methodologies employed in routine monitoring programs. However, most of the assays and biosensors for the screening of PSTs, are restricted to a single target, saxitoxin (STX), which is the most potent PST. The present study aimed at developing an assay for the detection of N-sulfocarbamoyl PST—GTX5, which is one of the most abundant toxins in bivalves during G. catenatum blooms as found on the Portuguese coast. Enzymatic assay employing PSTs’ transforming enzyme—carbamoylase—was proposed. Carbamoylase was extracted and purified from the surf clam S. solida. Carbamoylase displayed similar specificity to both carbamate (STX) and N-sulfocarbamate toxins (GTX5 and C1+2) converting them into decarbamoyl saxitoxin (dcSTX) and decarbamoyl gonyautoxins 2+3 (dcGTX2+3), r...
Source: Sensors - Category: Biotechnology Authors: Tags: Article Source Type: research