Metabolism of Trichothecene Mycotoxins

In an attempt to elucidate the active form of T-2 toxin, one of trichothecene mycotoxins in vivo, the metabolism in animal tissues was studied in vitro by using gas liquid chromatography. T-2 toxin was selectively hydrolysed by the microsomal esterase at C-4, giving rise to HT-2 toxin as the only metabolite. This esterase activity was found mainly in the microsomes of liver, kidney, and spleen of laboratory animals. Since the enzymatic hydrolysis of T-2 toxin was inhibited by eserine, and diisopropylfluorophosphate, it is concluded that non-specific carboxyesterase [EC 3.1.1.1] of microsomal origin participates in this type of selective hydrolysis of T-2 toxin. The microsomal fraction from rabbit liver was proved to be a convinient material for the preparation of HT-2 toxin from T-2 toxin. From the evidence that the toxicity of HT-2 toxin is comparable to that of T-2 toxin and that the microsomal fraction of whole liver possesses the ability to biotransform the total lethal dose of T-2 toxin into HT-2 within a few minutes, T-2 toxin administered to animals is presumed to exhibit its toxicity partly as HT-2 toxin.