抄録
Cyanobacterial toxins can be produced in freshwater lakes, ponds, reservoirs, and rivers, in brackish water lagoons and estuaries and in marine environments. They have caused the death of animals all over the world and may threaten human health. The toxins are classified as hepatotoxins and neurotoxins according to their toxic action. The hepatotoxins include the heptapeptide microcystins, pentapeptide nodularin, and alkaloid cylindrospermopsin, and the neurotoxins include alkaloids anatoxin-a, anatoxin-a(s), and aphantoxins. There have been several determination methods for the cyanobacterial toxins, which can be methodologically classified into three groups: biological, biochemical, and physicochemical methods. Mass spectrometry (MS) is a powerful tool for the analysis of cyanobacterial toxins, and standard fast atom bombardment (FAB) MS, liquid secondary ion (LSI) MS, and tandem FABMS (FAB-MS/MS) have been successfully used for the structure determination of the toxins. We have recently reported new analytical methods for microcystins and anatoxin-a using Frit-FAB liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), thermospray (TSP)-LC/MS, and electron ionization-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (EI-GC/MS). They have proved to be useful for simple screening, rapid identification, and sensitive quantitation of the toxins. A total analytical system for microcystins using LC/MS and GC/MS has been discussed. Additionally, mass spectrometric analysis methods for the other toxins have also been reviewed.
