Detection of N-(1-deoxy-d-fructos-1-yl) Fumonisins B2 and B3 in Corn by High-Resolution LC-Orbitrap MS

The existence of glucose conjugates of fumonisin B₂ (FB₂) and fumonisin B₃ (FB₃) in corn powder was confirmed for the first time. These "bound-fumonisins" (FB₂ and FB₃ bound to glucose) were identified as N-(1-deoxy-D-fructos-1-yl) fumonisin B₂ (NDfrc-FB₂) and N-(1-deoxy-D-fructos-1-yl) fumonisin B₃ (NDfrc-FB₃) respectively, based on the accurate mass measurements of characteristic ions and fragmentation patterns using high-resolution liquid chromatography-Orbitrap mass spectrometry (LC-Orbitrap MS) analysis. Treatment on NDfrc-FB₂ and NDfrc-FB₃ with the o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) reagent also supported that D-glucose binding to FB₂ and FB₃ molecules occurred to their primary amine residues.