Zinc, iron, copper, selenium, lactoferrin, and ferritin in human pus.

Background: Restriction of zinc and iron available for microbial growth in tissues are well-recognized host defense mechanisms. The present studies were performed to characterize some constituents of human pus that may affect these important host defenses.

Methods: Zinc, iron, copper, calcium, and magnesium in pus were measured using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer; selenium was measured fluorometrically.

Uptake of selenite, selenomethionine and selenate by brush border membrane vesicles isolated from rat small intestine.

The uptake of selenite, selenate and selenomethionine (SeMet) was performed with brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) prepared from rats fed selenium-deficient and supplemented diets. At equilibrium (60 min), the uptake of 75Se from [75Se]selenite ranged from 16.5 to 18.

Determination of the distribution of selenium between glutathione peroxidase, selenoprotein P, and albumin in plasma.

A chromatographic method is described to determine the distribution of selenium between selenoprotein P, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and albumin in plasma, using two small columns of heparin-Sepharose and reactive blue 2-Sepharose linked together in tandem. One milliliter of plasma was diluted to 12 ml with 0.02 M sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.

Uptake of selenotrisulfides of glutathione and cysteine by brush border membranes from rat intestines.

The uptake of selenodiglutathione and selenodicysteine was compared to that of selenite by brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) prepared from rat intestinal tracts. It was found that it is critical to maintain a pH of 6.0 or below to prevent the spontaneous breakdown of these compounds.

Chemical forms of selenium in selenium containing proteins from human plasma.

The chemical forms of selenium (Se) were determined in human plasma fractions. Human plasma was subjected to gel filtration using Sephadex G-150, and the first Se peak from this column was subsequently chromatographed on DEAE-Sephacel. The form of Se in the Se peak which eluted from this column was shown to be selenocysteine (SeCys).