Aflatoxin Products


Description

The aflatoxins are a group of closely related mycotoxins that are widely distributed in nature. The most important of the group is aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), which has a range of biological activities, including acute toxicity, teratogenicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. In order for AFB1 to exert its effects, it must be converted to its reactive epoxide by the action of the mixed function mono-oxygenase enzyme systems (cytochrome P450-dependent) in the tissues (in particular, the liver) of the affected animal. This epoxide is highly reactive and can form derivatives with several cellular macromolecules, including DNA, RNA and protein. Cytochrome P450 enzymes may additionally catalyse the hydroxylation (to AFQ1 and AFM1) and demethylation (to AFP1) of the parent AFB1 molecule, resulting in products less toxic than AFB1. Conjugation of AFB1 to glutathione (mediated by glutathione S-transferase) and its subsequent excretion is regarded as an important detoxification pathway in animals. Aflatoxins are well recognized as a cause of liver cancer, but they have additional important toxic effects. Aflatoxin B1 is a potent hepatocarcinogenic and mutagenic mycotoxin of Aspergillus flavus.

Bioinformatics

Alternate Names
  • AFB1-AR1
  • Aflatoxin M1
  • AFT
  • Aldoketoreductase 7
  • FB1

Research Areas for Aflatoxin

Find related products by research area and learn more about each of the different research areas below.

Amino Acids, Drugs and other small molecules
Virology, Bacteria and Parasites