Abstract
THE integrated structural and functional complexes of many biological entities have been conserved by freezing and storage at low temperatures. The cryo-tolerance of enzymes, viruses, bacteria, cells or tissues has been increased by the inclusion of ‘protective substances’ in the suspending medium1,2. We have reported recently the role of glycerol in protecting oxidative phosphorylation by suspensions of mitochondria during freezing or freezing and storage at low temperatures3. Dr. Audrey Smith, of the National Institute for Medical Research, London, suggested to us that dimethyl sulphoxide could replace glycerol. Our preliminary work has shown dimethyl sulphoxide to be equal to glycerol as a protective substance and to be superior in certain instances.
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References
Harris, R. J. C., in Biological Applications of Freezing and Drying, edit. by Harris, R. J. C., 201 (Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1954).
Smith, A. U., in Biological Applications of Freezing and Drying, edit. by Harris, R. J. C., 1 (Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1954).
Greiff, D., Myers, M., and Privitera, C. A., Biochim. Biophys. Acta (in the press).
Klein, P. D., and Johnson, R. M., J. Biol. Chem., 211, 103 (1954).
Lardy, H. A., and Wellman, H., J. Biol. Chem., 195, 215 (1952).
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GREIFF, D., MYERS, M. Effect of Dimethyl Sulphoxide on the Cryo-tolerance of Mitochondria. Nature 190, 1202–1204 (1961). https://doi.org/10.1038/1901202b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1901202b0
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