It's no secret that deuterium instead of H1 isn't good for proteins, but apparently a certain percentage of it is not just tolerated but expected, with not-always benign consequences if it isn't there. Not what I would have expected...
A major deuterium-depleted water (DDW) phenomenon is the depressed growth of cancer cells, which is currently being exploited in a clinical trial. Previously, while studying the antiproliferation effect of DDW in human lung adenocarcinoma cells, we determined that DDW induces mitochondrial redox imbalance that leads to oxidative stress. In general, deuterium concentration between 80 ppm and 300 ppm (the natural value being ∼150 ppm) is found to be a cell growth regulator.
So what happens if you purify media (they call it Depleted) of the heavier isotopes of carbon and oxygen and nitrogen?
Well, e-coli grow faster, some proteins become more active, and other technical variations appear.
An M9 minimum media based on 13C-depleted glucose and 15N-depleted salt dissolved in D,18O-depleted water (Depleted media) was formulated. E. coli bacteria grow faster in Depleted media compared with isotopically natural media (Normal media). In addition, four different enzymes recombinantly produced in Depleted media showed faster kinetics compared with the enzymes produced in Normal media.
Found via SciTechDaily
1 comment:
A matter of great importance if we are to colonize the Moon or Mars is the chemical and isotopic balances of the water supply.
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