The mechanisms of hemoglobin precipitation into Heinz bodies and hemolytic anemia that characterize congenital Heinz body hemolytic anemia (CHBHA) were studied in patients with the unstable hemoglobins, Köln (beta-98 valine --> methionine) and Hammersmith (beta-42 phenylalanine --> serine). The cysteines in the 93rd position of the beta-chains of CHBHA hemoglobins bound glutathione excessively ...

Chondrocytes in dense suspension culture in agarose survive in serum-free DME because they secrete low molecular mass compounds supporting their own viability. This activity can be replaced by pyruvate, or sulfhydryl compounds, e.g., cysteine or dithioerythritol. Catalase, an enzyme decomposing H2O2, also protects the cells, whereas superoxide dismutase has no effect. Therefore, chondrocytes in...

Oxygen free radicals have been hypothesized to play a pivotal role in the deleterious effects of smoking on health. The present study was undertaken to examine the oxidant and antioxidant system among smokers and nonsmokers. Fourteen smokers and 11 nonsmokers were enrolled for this study. The protein carbonyl levels in smokers were found to be significantly higher than in nonsmokers. The levels...

ceruloplasmin (cp) is a human plasma protein with multiple physiological functions including ferroxidase and oxidase activities. deficiency or inhibition of the enzyme may lead to some abnormalities, including iron deposition in several tissues and causes various pathological conditions in the body. direct interaction of cadmium (cd), a widespread, highly toxic environmental pollutant, with hum...

The presence of a previously unidentified enzyme, tentatively designated 5-methylthioribose kinase, has been demonstrated in cell-free extracts of Enterobacter aerogenes. The enzyme catalyzes the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of 5-methylthioribose. ADP is one of the products of the reaction and, based on functional group analyses, the other product is 5-methylthioribose 1-phosphate. A 40-fold p...

The rate of scavenging by Ehrlich ascites cells of anionic ascorbyl and 2,6-dimethoxy-p-semiquinone free radicals has been investigated by electron spin resonance spectroscopy both for viable cells and for subcellular fractions obtained by differential centrifugation. The scavenging activity is concluded to be associated with an NAD(P)H enzyme containing an active sulfhydryl group. Attempts to ...

Treatment with ethanol extract of leaf of P. betle at a dose of 150 mg/kg body weight daily for 10 days, after induction of peptic ulcer by NSAID in albino rats, produced significant healing effect. During healing process, on treatment with the extractive, antioxidative factor, e.g. superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, mucus and total gastric tissue sulfhydryl group were increased. In co...