Highly sensitive method for quantitative determination of bilirubin in biological fluids and tissues

Unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) exhibits potent antioxidant and cytoprotective properties, but causes apoptosis and cytotoxicity at pathologically elevated concentrations. Accurate measurement of UCB concentrations in cells, fluids and tissues is needed to evaluate its role in redox regulation, prevention of atherosclerotic and malignant diseases, and bilirubin encephalopathy. In the present study, we developed and validated a highly sensitive method for tissue UCB determinations. UCB was extracted from rat organs with chloroform/methanol/hexane at pH 6.2 and then partitioned into a minute volume of alkaline buffer that was subjected to HPLC using an octyl reverse phase (RP) column. Addition of mesobilirubin as an internal standard corrected for losses of UCB during extraction. Recoveries averaged 75+/-5%. The detection limit was 10pmol UCB/g wet tissue. Variance was +/-2.5%. When used to measure UCB concentrations in tissues of jaundiced Gunn rats, this procedure yielded UCB levels directly comparable to published methods, and accurately determined very low tissue bilirubin concentrations (相似文献   

A gas chromatographic-mass spectral assay for the quantitative determination of oleamide in biological fluids.

Oleamide is a putative endogenous sleep-inducing lipid which potently enhances currents mediated by GABAA and serotonin receptors. While a quantitative assay would aid in determining the role of oleamide in physiological processes, most of the available assays are lacking in sensitivity. We now describe a quantitative assay for measuring low nanogram amounts of oleamide in biological fluids using GC/MS in the selective ion-monitoring mode. The internal standard (13C18 oleamide) was added to known concentrations of oleamide, which were converted to the N-trimethylsilyl or N-tert-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives before analysis by GC/MS, yielding linear calibration curves over the range of 1-25 ng of oleamide when monitoring the m/z 338/356 fragments. Using this technique, oleamide levels were determined following solvent extraction of normal rat cerebrospinal fluid and plasma to be 44 and 9.9 ng/ml, respectively. This technique constitutes a sensitive and reliable method for determining low nanogram quantities of oleamide in biological fluids.     

Kinetic characteristics of thiamine diphosphate biosynthesis by thiamine pyrophosphokinase from rat liver]

The kinetic analysis of bisubstrate enzymatic reaction catalysed by electrophoretically homogenous thiamine pyrophosphokinase (EC 2.7.6.2), isolated from rat liver has been carried out. Kinetic studies of the initial rates in the absence of the products and inhibition by the reaction products as well as the data from the equilibrium dialysis suggest that the reaction proceeds through the formation of a ternary enzyme-substrate complex. The combination with substrates and release of the products appears to be highly ordered. A possible scheme of the reaction mechanism is discussed.     

A rapid micromethod for the determination of nitrogen and phosphate in biological material

Two types of small containers for the liquid scintillation counting of 0.15–2 ml of aqueous sample in emulsifying agents have been investigated. Counting efficiency and reproducibility were found to be comparable with those found with more orthodox methods, but the effective cost is less. The systems also provide an economical way of using expensive reagents.     

Reliable micromethod for determination of the protein content in tissue homogenates]

A micromodification for protein determination in tissue material using Amido black 10 B is described. Compared with the method of LOWRY et al. it requires a comparable time expenditure, but has three principal advantages: 1) it is 5-10fold more sensitive; 2) the calibration curve is linear over a virtually unlimited range; 3) it is feasible in the presence of a number of substances frequently used in protein analyses and making difficult or impossible measurement according to LOWRY et al.     

New function of the amino group of thiamine diphosphate in thiamine catalysis

In this work, we investigated the rate of formation of the central intermediate of the transketolase reaction with thiamine diphosphate (ThDP) or 4′-methylamino-ThDP as cofactors and its stability using stopped-flow spectroscopy and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. The intermediates of the transketolase reaction were analyzed by NMR spectroscopy. The kinetic stability of the intermediate was shown to be dependent on the state of the amino group of the coenzyme. The rates of the intermediate formation were the same in the case of the native and methylated ThDP, but the rates of the protonation or oxidation of the complex in the ferricyanide reaction were significantly higher in the complex with methylated ThDP. A new negative band was detected in the CD spectrum of the complex transketolase—4′-methylamino-ThDP corresponding to the protonated dihydroxyethyl-4′-methylamino-ThDP released from the active sites of the enzyme. These data suggest that transketolase in the complex with the NH²-methylated ThDP exhibits dihydroxyethyl-4′-methylamino-ThDP-synthase activity. Thus, the 4′-amino group of the coenzyme provides kinetic stability of the central intermediate of the transketolase reaction, dihydroxyethyl-ThDP.     

A micromethod for the quantitative determination of the viability of Candida albicans hyphae

A micromethod for the quantitative determination of the viability of Candida albicans hypae was devised which takes advantage of the dimorphic nature of C. albicans which grows exclusively in the yeast form when incubated aerobically on Sabouraud dextrose agar at 30°C. When tested by thisd method, all viable, C. albicans hyphae were recognized as microcolonies consisting of one hypha surrounded by several yeast form progeny. In contrast to this, no yeast form progeny emerged from nonviable hypae. By counting appropriate total numbers (200–400) of microcolony-forming hypae and infertile hyphae, it was possible to determine the ratio of viable to nonviable cells in a given hyphal suspension. This micromethod may be used for quantitative assessment of the candidacidal effects of various antimycotic agents or phagocytes C. albicans hyphae whose viability could not have been determined by the conventional plating technique because of the species' high propensity to clump.