Identification of zinc and cadmium complexes of the mycotoxin sporidesmin A by electrospray mass spectrometry

Abstract

The fungal toxin sporidesmin A (spdA), responsible for the occurrence of facial eczema in livestock, forms a dianionic thiolato complex of the type [(spdA)₂M]^2– with zinc and cadmium, identified by electrospray mass spectrometry; such complexes may be important in the protection against facial eczema offered by zinc salts.