salicylates and picric-acid

Outer hair cell (OHC) electromotility enables frequency selectivity and sensitivity in mammalian audition. Electromotility is generated by the transmembrane protein prestin and is sensitive to amphipathic compounds including salicylate, chlorpromazine (CPZ), and trinitrophenol (TNP). Although these compounds induce observable membrane curvature changes in erythrocytes, their effects on OHC membrane curvature are unknown. In this work, fluorescence polarization microscopy was applied to investigate the effects of salicylate, CPZ, and TNP on di-8-ANEPPS orientation in the OHC plasma membrane. Our results demonstrate the ability of fluorescence polarization microscopy to measure amphipath-induced changes in di-8-ANEPPS orientation, consistent with nanoscale changes in membrane curvature between regularly spaced proteins connecting the OHC plasma membrane and cytoskeleton. Simultaneous application of oppositely charged amphipaths generally results in no net membrane bending, consistent with predictions of the bilayer couple hypothesis; however, the application of salicylate (10 mM), which inhibits electromotility, is not reversed by the addition of CPZ. This result supports other findings that suggest salicylate primarily influences electromotiliy and OHC nonlinear capacitance via a direct interaction with prestin. In contrast, we find that CPZ and TNP influence the voltage sensitivity of prestin via membrane bending, demonstrating the mechanosensitivity of this unique membrane motor protein.

Topics: Analysis of Variance; Animals; Cell Membrane; Chlorpromazine; Cytoskeleton; Female; Guinea Pigs; Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer; Membrane Potentials; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Picrates; Proteins; Pyridinium Compounds; Salicylates; Surface-Active Agents

The differences of the non-precipitable N-quota in blood plasma, liver, intestine, and muscles after treatment with various precipitants reveal data on the height of protein precipitation in the corresponding body fraction. Organs of hens treated with picric acid (1%), trichloroacetic acid (10%), and sulphosalicylic acid were used for the protein precipitation. Because of contradictory literature data as to the most suitable concentration of sulphosalicylic acid a preliminary determination of the most favourable acid concentration was necessary. The application of a 5% solution of sulphosalicylic acid gave the highest precipitation rate depending on the analyzed organs. In the succession picric acid, trichloroacetic acid, and sulphosalicylic acid nitrogen increases in the soluble supernatant. Furthermore, dependences of the protein precipitation on the kind of the analyzed organs were indicated.

Topics: Animals; Benzenesulfonates; Blood Proteins; Chickens; Female; Intestinal Mucosa; Liver; Muscles; Picrates; Proteins; Salicylates; Trichloroacetic Acid

Topics: Benzenesulfonates; Creatinine; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Methods; Microchemistry; Paper; Picrates; Salicylates; Sodium Hydroxide