Fumonisin B1 (FB1)

Fumonisin B1 is a potent mycotoxin produced primarily by the fungi Fusarium verticillioides and Fusarium proliferatum, which are common contaminants of maize and maize-based products [1, 6]. It is not a therapeutic target but rather a toxic small molecule that acts as a structural analog of sphingoid bases, such as sphingosine and sphinganine [3, 9]. Its primary mechanism of toxicity is the competitive inhibition of ceramide synthase (sphingosine N-acyltransferase), an enzyme essential for the de novo synthesis of sphingolipids [2, 10]. This inhibition leads to the accumulation of sphinganine and the depletion of complex sphingolipids, causing cellular dysfunction, apoptosis, and oxidative stress [6, 8]. Fumonisin B1 is classified as a Group 2B carcinogen and is associated with various diseases, including esophageal cancer and neural tube defects in humans, as well as species-specific conditions like equine leukoencephalomalacia and porcine pulmonary edema [6, 7, 13]. While not a drug target in the traditional sense, it is a significant focus of food safety research, where enzymes like FUMzyme are used to detoxify it in animal feed [8, 11].

Other names

FB1MacrofusineFumonisin B(1)

Enzymatic hydrolysis of the tricarballylic acid side chains by carboxylesterases and sequestration by neutralizing antibodies.