Methodological improvement of the protein phosphatase inhibition assay for the detection of okadaic acid in mussels

Nat Toxins. 1999;7(6):387-91. doi: 10.1002/1522-7189(199911/12)7:6<387::aid-nt87>3.0.co;2-n.

Abstract

A simplified procedure for the enzyme inhibition assay to measure okadaic acid and DTX-1 in mussels, based on the use of a commercially available enzyme preparation, is presented. The detection limit is 10 ng of toxin per g of digestive glands. Using Certified Reference Material (MUS-2), high accuracy and good precision is demonstrated for contamination levels higher than 32 ng g(-1). Twenty samples can be processed in about 9 h by one operator, at the cost of US$ 10 per sample. Some possibilities for further enhancing the sensitivity and reducing the processing time are discussed and a monitoring example is presented.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Assay / economics
  • Bivalvia / chemistry*
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / analysis*
  • Mice
  • Okadaic Acid / analysis*
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Pyrans / analysis
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Pyrans
  • Okadaic Acid
  • dinophysistoxin 1
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases