Phospholipid oxidation catalyzed by cytochrome c in liposomes

Oxidation of liposome phospholipids has been studied in the presence of cytochrome c. Sonicated vesicles of soya bean or egg-yolk lipids, or purified phospholipid preparations, were treated with oxidized cytochrome c at a 10:4 lipid/protein ratio (w/w). Lipid peroxidation was examined by oxygen polarography, gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) and the thiobarbituric acid test. Oxidized, but not reduced, cytochrome effectively catalyzes lipid oxidation under these conditions. Oxygen consumption and disappearance of unsaturated fatty acids follow closely similar patterns, the O2 consumption rate showing a maximum (1.53 mol O2/min per mol heme) shortly before fatty acid loss reaches its peak. GLC and O2 consumption data suggest that monohydroperoxides are the most abundant oxidized species in the system. The thiobarbituric acid reaction, however, appears only to be of qualitative value in peroxidation studies. In order to test the mechanism through which oxidation occurs in our system, the effect of liposome composition and the presence of antioxidants was tested, both on cytochrome c binding to bilayers and on O2 consumption. Oxidized and reduced cytochrome c bind the lipid bilayers with similar affinity, but only the oxidized form is active in autoxidation. Antioxidants do not modify either cytochrome c binding to sonicated liposomes. Lipid composition does influence considerably cytochrome binding, and O2 consumption is correspondingly altered. Studies with various antioxidants and inhibitors suggest that both free radicals and singlet oxygen may be involved in the process under study.     

Changes in superoxide dismutase activity in the presence of electron donors and acceptors

The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) from bovine erythrocytes was measured by the inhibition of nitrotetrazolium blue reduction rate in superoxide anion radical generation systems--xanthine/xanthine oxidase of NADH/phenazine methasulfate. The enzyme activity increases in the presence of compounds acting as electron donors in radical-involving reactions and decreased in the presence of compounds possessing the properties of electron acceptors. Activation of SOD by electron donors and its inhibition by electron acceptors was dependent on the concentration of the above compounds. In the absence of SOD electron donors and acceptors did not change the rate of tetrazolium blue reduction by superoxide anion radicals. The role of the new type of SOD regulation for the enzyme functioning in the cell is discussed.     

Iodine concentration by the fungus Penicillium chrysogenum inhabiting soils of the nonchernozem zone

The iodine accumulation by strains of microscopic fungi Penecillium chrysogenum isolated from soddy-middle podzolic soils of Kirov region has been studied. It has been shown that fungi are able to accumulate from 5,0 X 10(-5) to 10,2% of iodine depending upon the medium iodine content and the degree of the organisms' tolerance to its high concentrations.     

Comparative analysis of the HBsAg level in human blood preparations

A total of 218 batches of blood preparations produced from different raw materials have been studied by means of enzyme immunoassay kits (Abbott Laboratories, USA). The assays have revealed that the preparations under study are nonstandard with respect to the content and isolation rate of HBsAg, the marker of hepatitis B virus. These data necessitate search for the ways of improving the quality of blood preparations.