Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

W Lohmann

Publications and source records attributed to W Lohmann.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The importance of SH-containing substances for red blood cells in acute myeloic leukemia.

Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of lyophilized erythrocytes obtained from patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) show, in comparison to controls, a characteristic change especially in the low-field region of the spectrum concomitant with a reduction of the spin concentration. This effect can be simulated by addition of SH-containing substances (e.g. reduced glutathione or cysteine) to healthy erythrocytes. S-S containing compounds exhibit no effect. Since SH-containing substances can hardly permeate plasma membranes, the membrane surface seems to be defective in the case of "AML" erythrocytes. Furthermore, it can be concluded that the concentration of SH-containing substances, such as cysteine, is increased in the plasma of AML-patients, which could be confirmed by HPLC-measurements. In the case of a successful treatment of the patients with alexan, daunoblastin, and thioguanine the spin concentration increased again and the resulting ESR spectrum is very similar to the control spectrum. It should be pointed out, that the ascorbic acid concentration is very low in both plasma and erythrocytes of AML patients.

Ascorbic Acid↗

[Significance of fluorescence spectra for the evaluation of lens opacities].

The fluorescence spectra of nucleus and cortex material from human lenses obtained as a result of extracapsular cataract extraction were observed. With advancing cataract formation the fluorescence spectra changed in a very characteristic way. The changes in ascorbic acid were compared with those caused by cataract development. Clinical application of corresponding measuring instruments would appear to make sense.

Adult↗

Evaluation of a direct spectrophotometric method for the rapid determination of ascorbate and dehydroascorbate in blood using ascorbate oxidase.

The application of a technique for the direct spectrophotometric determination of ascorbate and dehydroascorbate in blood samples is described. The reliability of the test system and various disturbing factors are assessed. It is concluded that the technique possesses a high specificity and that interferences by various biochemicals and metabolic intermediates are low. The lowest ascorbate concentration detectable in plasma by this assay is estimated to be about 1 mumol/l.

Ascorbate Oxidase↗

Influence of metal ions on the transport of ascorbate across membranes.

The effect of Fe2+, Cu2+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ on the permeation of ascorbate across membranes of dipalmitoyllecithin (DPPC) vesicles was investigated. As in previous experiments, the spin label I (1,14) was used for monitoring this transport. While Mg2+ and Ca2+ exerted a small effect only, Fe2+ and Cu2+ increased considerably the reduction of the spin label. In the case of Fe2+, this is not only due to a higher permeation rate of ascorbate but is also caused by a permeation of Fe2+. As a matter of fact, the largest reduction of the spin label was obtained if Fe2+ alone was added to the spin labelled DPPC solution. The reduction of the spin label seems to depend on the redox potentials of the constituents.

Ascorbic Acid↗

The role of ascorbic acid in senile cataract.

The reductone ascorbic acid, present in the crystalline lens in concentrations higher than those of glucose, is capable of undergoing nonenzymatic "browning" in the presence of lenticular proteins. We studied the nonenzymatic browning with ascorbate in model systems employing bovine serum albumin and lens crystallins. When bovine serum albumin, alpha-crystallin, or gamma-crystallin was incubated with [14C]ascorbic acid, the formation of yellow and then brown condensation products appeared to correlate with increasing protein-associated radioactivity. The fluorescence spectrum of these products was similar to that of homogenates of human cataractous lenses. We suggest that the nonenzymatic reaction of lens crystallins with ascorbic acid may contribute, at least in part, to the color changes of aging lenses and to the physical lenticular deterioration leading to senile cataract. High dietary intake of ascorbic acid did not affect the fluorescence spectrum of murine lenses; thus, we assume that the speed and extent of the lenticular browning reactions must depend on a deterioration of other factors of the multicomponent antioxidant system of the eye.

Anaerobiosis↗

Structure of ascorbic acid and its biological function. Determination of the conformation of ascorbic acid and isoascorbic acid by infrared and ultraviolet investigations.

The four O-H bands of ascorbic acid could be assigned by means of infrared investigations. It could be shown by electron spin resonance and nuclear magnetic resonance measurements that the radical sodium ascorbate is formed by a cyclic side-chain structure resulting in a loss of C(6)-OH and C(3)-OH. The C(2) = C(3) double bond is still maintained as could be shown by infrared and ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy. In the case of complete oxidation of ascorbic acid to dehydroascorbic acid, C(6)-OH is reestablished (indicating the reopening of the furanoid ring), while C(2)-OH as well as the C(2) = C(3) double bond have disappeared due to the deprotonation of C(2)-OH and C(3)-OH. In the case of isoascorbic acid and its radical potassium isoascorbate similar results are obtained with one distinct difference: in the case of isoascorbic acid, C(2)-OH does not appear while C(3)-OH exhibits a shoulder.

Ascorbic Acid↗

Structure of ascorbic acid and its biological function. VI. Its importance for the Na+/K+-transport.

Ascorbic acid/isoascorbic acid are present as radicals at physiological pH with the unpaired electron located in the C(4) region. Since a distinction can be made between both types of radicals, the electron spin resonance technique can be used for discrimination between the epimers of vitamin C. The radical has a cyclic side-chain structure which is formed by the hydrogen bond C(3)-O-... HO-C(6) (approximately equal to 2.7 kJ) and which engulfs Na+ or K+ in the case of the ascorbyl or the isoascorbyl radical, respectively. The radicals Na-ASC and K-Iso-ASC are electroneutral. Red. glutathione affects both types of radicals by restoring the original electronic configuration at C(4) without changing the electroneutral bicyclic structure. In this way, the mobile carriers Na-ASC and K-Iso-ASC can transport Na+ and K+ across membranes. Its highest efficiency is around 37 degrees C and pH approximately equal to 7, that is, at physiological values. The biological importance of the side chain of vitamin C is outlined and a possible transport mechanism proposed.

Ascorbic Acid↗

Structure of ascorbic acid and its biological function. I. ESR determination of the ascorbyl radical in biological samples and in model systems.

ESR investigations on lyophilized systems have shown that the signal at g = 2.005 can be explained by an interaction between Na+ or K+ and the anionic ascorbyl radical. The unpaired electron is probably localized near the C(4) region and is produced by a cleavage of an H atom belonging to a water molecule bound tightly to C(4). Experiments on aqueous samples revealed that ascorbic acid in its radical configuration and in its highest concentration exists only at physiological pH and temperature. An additional splitting is obtained by the ring formation between C(3) and C(6)-OH. The coupling constants of the triplets produced by the CH2-6 protons differ between ascorbic acid and isoascorbic acid. Thus, the ESR technique can be applied for an easy distinction between these two epimers.

Ascorbic Acid↗