Cerium-mediated Free Radicals in Contractile Proteins. EPR and DSC study

The effect of free radicals obtained in hydroxyl and cerium(IV)-nitrilotriacetic acid free radical generating systems on contractile proteins (actin, myosin and their complexes in glycerinated muscle fibres) was studied using differential scanning calorimetry and spin trapping electron paramagnetic resonance technique. The analysis of spectra showed that selective attack of thiol groups – Cys-257 and Cys-374 residues of actin, and among others Cys-707 residue of myosin – and random attack of sidechains of the main proteins of muscle tissue produced structural and functional changes, which affected the ATP hydrolysis cycle and very likely the dynamics of actin. The melting curves obtained on protein systems support the view that global conformational changes accompany the local damage of free radicals.