DISTRIBUTION AND TURNOVER OF ACETALDEHYDE-MODIFIED PROTEINS IN LIVER AND BLOOD OF ETHANOL-FED RATS

Previous studies have shown that acetaldehyde (AcH)-modified proteins are formed in the liver and blood of rats fed ethanol-containing diets . In this study we report the application of ELISA techniques to study the subcellular distribution and turnover of AcH-modified proteins in ethanol-fed and control rats. Modified proteins were found in liver m itochondrial, crude membrane and cytosolic fractions, as well as in pl asma from ethanol-fed rats. No adducts were detected by our assay in h aemolysates from the same animals. The rate of decline of AcH-modified proteins after cessation of ethanol feeding was also examined. Modifi ed liver cytosolic proteins were shown to decline with a half-life of 2.3 weeks, whereas modified plasma adducts declined with a half-life o f 4.8 weeks.