Peroxidation of proteins and lipids in suspensions of liposomes, in blood serum, and in mouse myeloma cells.

There is growing evidence that proteins are early targets of reactive oxygen species, and that the altered proteins can in turn damage other biomolecules. In this study, we measured the effects of proteins on the oxidation of liposome phospholipid membranes, and the formation of protein hydroperoxides in serum and in cultured cells exposed to radiation-generated hydroxyl free radicals. Lysozyme, which did not affect liposome stability, gave 50% protection when present at 0.3 mg/ml, and virtually completely prevented lipid oxidation at 10 mg/ml. When human blood serum was irradiated, lipids were oxidized only after the destruction of ascorbate. In contrast, peroxidation of proteins proceeded immediately. Protein hydroperoxides were also generated without a lag period in hybrid mouse myeloma cells, while at the same time no lipid peroxides formed. These results are consistent with the theory that, under physiological conditions, lipid membranes are likely to be effectively protected from randomly-generated hydroxyl radicals by proteins, and that protein peroxyl radicals and hydroperoxides may constitute an important hazard to biological systems under oxidative stress.

Assessing the effect of reactive oxygen species on Escherichia coli using a metabolome approach.

A two-dimensional thin-layer chromatographic analysis of [14C]-labelled metabolites in Escherichia coli was employed to follow metabolic shifts in response to superoxide stress. Steady-state challenge with paraquat at concentrations inducing SoxRS-controlled genes resulted in several alterations in metabolite pools, including a striking increase in valine concentration. Elevated valine levels, together with increased glutathione and alkylperoxidase, are proposed to constitute an intracellular protection mechanism against reactive oxygen species. As shown by this example of metabolome analysis, novel cellular responses to environmental challenge can be revealed by following the total complement of metabolites in a cell.

Effect of slow growth on metabolism of Escherichia coli, as revealed by global metabolite pool ("metabolome") analysis.

Escherichia coli growing on glucose in minimal medium controls its metabolite pools in response to environmental conditions. The extent of pool changes was followed through two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography of all 14C-glucose labelled compounds extracted from bacteria. The patterns of metabolites and spot intensities detected by phosphorimaging were found to reproducibly differ depending on culture conditions. Clear trends were apparent in the pool sizes of several of the 70 most abundant metabolites extracted from bacteria growing in glucose-limited chemostats at different growth rates. The pools of glutamate, aspartate, trehalose, and adenosine as well as UDP-sugars and putrescine changed markedly. The data on pools observed by two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography were confirmed for amino acids by independent analysis. Other unidentified metabolites also displayed different spot intensities under various conditions, with four trend patterns depending on growth rate. As RpoS controls a number of metabolic genes in response to nutrient limitation, an rpoS mutant was also analyzed for metabolite pools. The mutant had altered metabolite profiles, but only some of the changes at slow growth rates were ascribable to the known control of metabolic genes by RpoS. These results indicate that total metabolite pool ("metabolome") analysis offers a means of revealing novel aspects of cellular metabolism and global regulation.

Binding of carbohydrates to solid supports Part 3: Reaction of sugar hydrazones with polystyrene substituted with aromatic aldehydes.

The hydrazones of glucose and N-acetylglucosamine, as models for the residues at the reducing termini of glycans, were covalently and reversibly bound in good yield to hydroxybenzaldehydo ligands attached to a polymer support. The binding, by a sugar azine linkage, occurred within two hours at room temperature at neutral pH, and efficient recoveries of sugars from the beads were achieved by displacement with aqueous hydrazine hydrate, ethanolic benzaldehyde, or aqueous acetone. Enzyme modification of glycans was demonstrated by separation of the products of hydrolysis of lactose hydrazone with beta-galactosidase, using hydroxybenzaldehyde-derivatized polystyrene beads. Addition of a spacer arm to aminopolystyrene beads, for binding of reducing sugars as Amadori compounds to the aromatic amine function, was also investigated.

Binding of carbohydrates to solid supports, Part 2: Reaction of sugar hydrazones with isothiocyanate-substituted polystyrene.

The binding of sugars to a polymer support as thiosemicarbazones has been investigated as a means of immobilizing glycans. Hydrazones of glucose and N-acetylglucosamine were prepared by reaction with hydrazine hydrate, and successfully reacted with isothiocyanate-substituted polystyrene by incubation at room temperature and neutral pH. The binding was efficient and stable in aqueous buffers over a range of pH conditions. The bound sugars were recovered in moderate yield by treatment of the beads with hydrazine hydrate, benzaldehyde or acetone. Direct binding of reducing sugars to thiosemicarbazide-substituted polystyrene was not successful because of the unfavourable thermodynamics.

Principles of risk management.

The steps of risk management are outlined, together with a range of the most useful tools. Risk management involves hazard and risk identification, assessment (quantitative or nonquantitative or both), risk reduction and risk control. While the techniques were developed in military and industrial applications, they are entirely applicable to transfusion medicine, and are particularly appropriate in ensuring that the low probability of serious adverse effects remains low and is further reduced.

Binding of carbohydrates to solid supports: evaluation of a prototype system.

Mono- and disaccharides were covalently and irreversibly bound to aminopolystyrene beads in good yield by heating in dilute aqueous solution. The degree and stability of sugar binding were determined by chemical and radiochemical methods and the accessibility of the bound sugars was demonstrated by exoglycosidase hydrolysis and by an enzyme-linked lectin-binding assay using Concanavalin A.