Biosensor based on inhibition of monoamine oxidases A and B for detection of β-carbolines

Talanta. 2015 May:137:94-9. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2015.02.013. Epub 2015 Feb 16.

Abstract

β-Carbolines are inhibitors of monoamine oxidases (MAO-A and MAO-B) and can be found in foods, hallucinogenic plant or various drugs. We have developed a fast analysis method for β-carbolines based on the inhibition of MAO. The enzymes were immobilized on screen-printed electrodes modified with a stabilized film of Prussian blue that contain also copper. We have used benzylamine as substrate for the enzymatic reaction and the hydrogen peroxide was measured amperometrically at -50 mV. The detection limits obtained were 5.0 µM for harmane and 2.5 µM for both harmaline and norharmane. The MAO-A is inhibited by all three tested β-carbolines (harmane, norharmane, and harmaline) while MAO-B is inhibited only by norharmane. The presence of norharmane in mixtures of β-carbolines can be identified based on the difference between the cumulative inhibition of MAO-A by all β-carbolines and MAO-B inhibition. The developed biosensors were used for food analysis.

Keywords: Harmaline; Harmane; Monoamine oxidase; Norharmane; β-Carbolines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques / instrumentation
  • Biosensing Techniques / methods*
  • Carbolines / analysis*
  • Carbolines / pharmacology*
  • Carbon / chemistry
  • Copper / chemistry
  • Electrodes
  • Ferrocyanides / chemistry
  • Food Analysis
  • Humans
  • Monoamine Oxidase / metabolism*
  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / analysis*
  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Carbolines
  • Ferrocyanides
  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
  • Carbon
  • Copper
  • Monoamine Oxidase
  • ferric ferrocyanide