Abstract
The surface of Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG (LGG) has previously been shown to bind aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) effectively, it being a food-borne carcinogen produced by certain species of Aspergillus fungi. To establish which components of the cell envelope are involved in the AFB1 binding process, exopolysaccharides and a cell wall isolate containing peptidoglycan were extracted from LGG and its AFB1 binding properties were tested. LGG was also subjected to various enzymatic and chemical treatments and their effects on the binding of AFB1 by LGG were examined. No evidence was found for exopolysaccharides, cell wall proteins, Ca2+ or Mg2+ being involved in AFB1 binding. The AFB1 binding activity of the cell wall isolate indicates that AFB1 binds to the cell wall peptidoglycan of LGG or compounds tightly associated with the peptidoglycan.
Acknowledgements
Research was funded by the Key Centre for Applied and Nutritional Toxicology, RMIT-University, and by grants from the Faculty of Life Sciences, RMIT-University. S. J. L. was a recipient of a University of Turku Exchange Scholarship under the University of Turku-RMIT Student Exchange Program; C. A. H. was a recipient of an RMIT-University postdoctoral fellowship. The authors thank Eine Huttunen (University of Helsinki) for helpful discussions.
Notes
¶Present address: Australian Water Quality Centre, Private Mail Bag 3, Salisbury, South Australia 5108, Australia.
§Present address: Functional Foods Forum, University of Turku, Itäinen pitkäkatu 4, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland.
§Present address: Functional Foods Forum, University of Turku, Itäinen pitkäkatu 4, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland.