Cyanobacterial hepatotoxins oxidation mechanisms and interaction with DNA

Abstract

Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) produce a variety of harmful -compounds known as cyanotoxins. Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) and nodularin (NOD) are two potent cyanotoxins with strong hepatotoxic activity which pose a major risk to animals and humans, causing illness and death. Several methods for the detection and degradation of these toxins have been developed over the last years due to MC-LR and NOD strong toxic effects. An electrochemical investigation of MC-LR and NOD electrochemical behaviour, as well as their chemical degradation, is described and emerges as an innovation in the cyanotoxins detection field. The MC-LR and the NOD-DNA interactions were investigated using a DNA-electrochemical -biosensor, adding more data to the studies of genotoxicity and carcinogenic potential associated to these toxins. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.