Biological reactive intermediates of mycotoxins.

The various reactions involved in the formation and actions of biological reactive intermediates of AFB1 are undoubtedly common to the wide variety of mycotoxins. The structural diversity of mycotoxins and their widespread occurrence in nature has made them a significant class of model environmental toxicants for mode of action studies. Identification of the reactive intermediates of prototype mycotoxins and elucidation of their reactions with molecular receptors will provide information useful for the design of antidotes of other remedial measures and for a better understanding of the mechanisms of action of comparable environmental toxicants. This type of studies will also permit the more precise biochemical analyses to be applied to the assessment of health risk due to exposure to mycotoxins.