Beef heart mitochondrial assay

Our first attempt was to synthesis some libraries, where we replaced the Z-double bonds with benzene rings, and the complex side chain with simpler groups. Typical examples were Compounds 8 and 9, (Figure 3). All the compounds were tested on a cascade consisting of the beef heart mitochondrial respiration assay and application to fimgi on leaf disks, with the most active compounds then being tested on fimgi on small plants. Unfortunately, none of the compounds showed activity in any of these tests. 

Different types of organisms such as daphnia, mussels, algae, and fish have been extensively incorporated in toxicity tests for water assessment systems [65], Most of these assays are developed as test systems with few as laboratory-based sensor systems. Membranes with their active enzyme system have also been implemented in the development of toxicity kits and sensors. An example is the MitoScan Kit (Harvard BioScience, Inc., Holliston, MA), which uses fragmented inner mitochondrial membrane vesicles isolated from beef heart (EPA, 2005 [9]). The submito-chondrial particles contain complexes of enzymes responsible for electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation. When specific toxins are in the sample, the enzyme reactions are slowed or inhibited, and these are monitored spectophotometrically at 340 mn. This is still in a bioassay test kit format but may be developed to optical sensor system. 

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