Fumonisin Toxicity and Metabolism Studies at the USDA

Abstract

Fumonisins are responsible for many of the toxic effects of the common corn fungus, Fusarium moniliforme. They are acute renal and liver toxins in rats, and have tumor promoting activity. Fumonisin B₁ is poorly absorbed, rapidly excreted, and persists in small amounts in the liver and kidney. Fumonisins are specific inhibitors of ceramide synthase, and the toxic effects they produce may be related to their ability to disrupt sphingolipid metabolism, resulting in a myriad of problems in cell regulation and communication. In this paper, research that has been conducted on F. monilforme and the fumonisins at the USDA’s Russell Research Center is reviewed.