Interaction of the mycotoxin metabolite dihydrocitrinone with serum albumin

Citrinin (CIT) is a nephrotoxic mycotoxin produced by Penicillium , Monascus , and Aspergillus species. CIT appears as a contaminant in cereals, cereal-based products, fruits, nuts, and spices. During the biotransformation of CIT, its major urinary metabolite dihydrocitrinone (DHC) is formed. Albumin interacts with several compounds (including mycotoxins) affecting their tissue distribution and elimination. CIT-albumin interaction is known; however, the complex formation of DHC with albumin has not been reported previously. In this study, we aimed to investigate the interaction of DHC with albumin, employing fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism, and molecular modeling studies. Furthermore, species differences and thermodynamics of the interaction as well as the effects of albumin on the acute in vitro toxicity of DHC and CIT were also tested. Our main observations/conclusions are as follows: (1) Fluorescence signal of DHC is strongly enhanced by albumin. (2) Formation of DHC-albumin complexes is supported by both fluorescence spectroscopic and circular dichroism studies. (3) DHC forms similarly stable complexes with human albumin ( K ~10 5 L/mol) as CIT. (4) DHC-albumin interaction did not show significant species differences (tested with human, bovine, porcine, and rat albumins). (5) Based on modeling studies and investigations with site markers, DHC occupies the Heme binding site (subdomain IB) on human albumin. (6) The presence of albumin significantly decreased the acute in vitro cytotoxic effects of both DHC and CIT on MDCK cell line.