Molecular markers of radiation-related normal tissue toxicity.

Over the past five decades, those interested in markers of radiation effect have focused primarily on tumor response. More recently, however, the view has broadened to include irradiated normal tissues-markers that predict unusual risk of side-effects, prognosticate during the prodromal and therapeutic phases, diagnose a particular toxicity as radiation-related, and, in the case of bioterror, allow for tissue-specific biodosimetry. Currently, there are few clinically useful radiation-related biomarkers.

Wyman's equation and oxygen flux through the red cell.

Wyman's equation of 1966 describes the facilitation of flux of a reversibly bound substrate such as oxygen, consequent on the translational diffusion of the binding protein (the carrier). While Wyman's equation, or some modification of it such as that by Murray 2, may provide a realistic description of the flux of oxygen through a dilute solution of haemoglobin (see also Wittenburg), it is unlikely to be the complete explanation, nor even the basis, for oxygen transport through the intact red cell. The mature erythrocyte contains approximately 350 g/l haemoglobin, and while this suggests that only 35% of the available water volume is actually occupied by the protein, the remaining 65% is unavailable for protein translational diffusion due to the mutual exclusion of the haemoglobin molecules.

Focusing on genomic and phenomic correlations in respiration of non-melanotic skin cancers.

In recent years, with the development of techniques in modem molecular biology, it has become possible to study the genetic basis of carcinogenesis down to the level of DNA sequence. Major advances have been made in our understanding of the genes involved in cell cycle control and descriptions of mutations in those genes. These developments have led to the definition of the role of specific oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes in several cancers, including, for example, colon cancers and some forms of breast cancer.

The anomalous Einstein-Stokes behaviour of oxygen and other low molecular weight diffusants.

Almost a century ago, Einstein and Sutherland independently derived equations that describe the relationship between diffusion of solutes and the molecular parameters of those solutes. In that time it has been recognized that, although the equations adequately describe the diffusion of large and medium-sized molecules, there is deviation from this relationship for small molecules. Many authors have attempted to redefine the equations for diffusion, with varying degrees of success, but generally have not attempted to consider the fundamental events that may be occurring at the molecular level during the diffusion of small molecules.

Effects of temperature on oxygen transport in sheets and spheres of respiring tissues.

The effect of temperature upon the oxygen partial pressure profiles (and hence upon flux) of oxygen through respiring tissues of differing architecture is examined. We have considered the two situations of respiring sheets of tissue and of respiring spheres. Sheets of respiring tissue can model to some extent the behaviour of skin (which abandons its own temperature stasis in response to its obligations in the control of overall body temperature).

The flux of oxygen within tissues.

Diffusive flux of oxygen through tissues which are essentially connective and have few cells, display reduced diffusion coefficients when compared to that through an equivalent lamina of water. In general even significant reductions can be explained in terms of the exclusions imposed on small molecular weight diffusates by the large hydrodynamic domains of the connective tissue components. An alternative way of explaining this large exclusion is to point to the very large microscopic viscosities which large interacting polymers impose upon the solvent (water).

How proton translocation across mitochondrial inner membranes drives the Fo rotor of ATP synthase.

It has been believed for some time that there are two major but alternative models for the selective transport of ions across membranes generally. On the one hand this transport is by way of transmembrane channels. These channels exist within macromolecular complexes which span the membrane and provide a hydrophilic pathway through which the ions can be translocated.

Chromosomal aberrations in squamous cell carcinoma and solar keratoses revealed by comparative genomic hybridization.

Objective: To identify chromosomal copy numbers of frequent genetic aberrations within squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) and solar keratoses (SKs), and provide further evidence to support or challenge current dogma concerning the relationship between these lesions.

Design: Retrospective analysis of genetic aberrations in DNA from SK and SCC biopsy specimens by comparative genomic hybridization.

Setting: University-based research laboratory in Queensland, Australia.