Capillary electrophoresis of peptides and proteins in fused-silica capillaries coated with derivatized polystyrene nanoparticles.

High-resolution capillary electrophoretic separation of proteins and peptides was achieved by coating the inner wall of 75 microm ID fused-silica capillaries with 40-140 nm polystyrene particles which have been derivatized with alpha-omega-diamines such as ethylenediamine or 1,10-diaminodecane. A stable and irreversibly adsorbed coating was obtained upon deprotonation of the capillary surface with aqueous sodium hydroxide and subsequent flushing with a suspension of the positively charged particles. At pH 3.1, the detrimental adsorption of proteins to the capillary inner wall was suppressed efficiently because of electrostatic repulsion of the positively charged proteins from the positively charged coating which enabled protein separations with maximum efficiencies of 400000 plates per meter. A substantial improvement of separation efficiency in particle-coated capillaries was observed after in-column derivatization of amino functionalities with 2,3-epoxy-l-propanol, resulting in a more hydrophilic coating. Five basic and four acidic proteins could be separated in less than 7 min with efficiencies up to 1900000 theoretical plates per meter. Finally, coated capillaries were applied to the high-resolution analysis of protein glycoforms and bioactive peptides.

Is cell aging caused by respiration-dependent injury to the mitochondrial genome?

Though intrinsic mitochondrial aging has been considered before as a possible cause of cellular senescence, the mechanisms of such mitochondrial aging have remained obscure. In this article we expand on our hypothesis of free-radical-induced inhibition of mitochondrial replenishment in fixed postmitotic cells. We maintain that the respiration-dependent production of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals may not be fully counteracted, leading to a continuous production of lipoperoxides and malonaldehyde in actively respiring mitochondria. These compounds, in turn, can easily react with the mitochondrial DNA which is in close spatial relationship with the inner mitochondrial membrane, producing an injury that the mitochondria may be unable to counteract because of their apparent lack of adequate repair mechanisms. Mitochondrial division may thus be inhibited leading to age-related reduction of mitochondrial numbers, a deficit in energy production with a concomitant decrease in protein synthesis, deterioration of physiological performance, and therefore, of organismic performance.