Volatile anesthetics alter protein stability.
1. We have used differential scanning calorimetry to measure the halothane induced change in stability of five lipid-free proteins in aqueous solution. 2. The temperature at peak heat capacity (Tm) as the sample is heated provides a measure of stability. 3. Addition of halothane increases Tm for bovine and human serum albumin, but decreases Tm for hen egg white lysozyme, bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A, and horse skeletal muscle myoglobin. 4. A shift of Tm in either direction may model the action of inhaled anesthetics on relevant proteins in the central nervous system.
Department of Anesthesia, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA. tannerj@mail.med.upenn.edu
J W
JW
Tanner
P A
PA
Liebman
R G
RG
Eckenhoff
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002417:Cattle; D004355:Drug Stability; D006221:Halothane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D013816:Thermodynamics
D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D011506:Proteins; D006221:Halothane