Binding of aflatoxin B1 to cell wall components of Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG

The surface of Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG (LGG) has previously been shown to bind aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) effectively, it being a food-borne carcinogen produced by certain species of Aspergillus fungi. To establish which components of the cell envelope are involved in the AFB(1) binding process, exopolysaccharides and a cell wall isolate containing peptidoglycan were extracted from LGG and its AFB(1) binding properties were tested. LGG was also subjected to various enzymatic and chemical treatments and their effects on the binding of AFB(1) by LGG were examined. No evidence was found for exopolysaccharides, cell wall proteins, Ca(2+) or Mg(2+) being involved in AFB(1) binding. The AFB(1) binding activity of the cell wall isolate indicates that AFB(1) binds to the cell wall peptidoglycan of LGG or compounds tightly associated with the peptidoglycan.