X-Message-Number: 32773 References: <> Date: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:27:30 +0200 Subject: Re: CryoNet #32769 - #32770 From: yvan Bozzonetti <> --0016e6de048a13a135048df34fa5 Re: Oberon's proposal to stimulate cryonics research I think Oberon's proposal has one interesting point: It aim towards reanimation, a subject not covered up to now by cryonics research. Now there is the question of the strategy to follow: For me, the proposal is an all out one, put all eggs in the same basket and try to get something out of the hat. Beyond cryoprotectant problem, there are other as has been pointed out, for example the protein denaturation. So, why not start at molecular level and see where we are? We know that freezing produce a drying of the cell interior (by osmotic process), this induce a protein misfolding. First question: What is know in the published literature about this denaturizing effect? Looking at Pub med for example for that could be done by nearly anyone at no cost (beyond time). From the 40 000 or so proteins we have, the normal folding is know only for a minority of them, so freeze denaturad ones are even less known. We need that information to solve the problem. Second question: Given the paucity of knowledge on the subject, we must look at setting up a system able to analyze these badly folded proteins. I think this can be done with nuclear magnetic resonance (not imaging system, simply chemical analyzer). To know about long range order, there is a need for very strong magnetic field and these devices are very costly, this is big science. Yet, if we move from nuclear spin to electronics ones, we can get a factor near 2000 in frequency and resolving power with a given magnetic field. A table-top device using permanent magnet could fit the bill, it could be produced for less than $100 000. Now is the problem of broken membranes: At room temperature, all biological membrane at cellular level are oily, in cold environment they turn stiff. When the cell shrinks because water goes out with the osmotic effect, the membrane can't follow and get broken. We have to see the real problem, not simply guess it or estimate it. This needs a cell level imaging device. This has been done with MRI in the liquid phase. MRI in solid is more difficult (very short so called time constant T1), so I suggest experimenting with freeze dried sample using polarized He3 gas. Existing MRI machine can be used for that, so there is no need for buying one, the only problem is producing polarized He3. This must be the objective of the research. I understand that is basic research and don't will raise the deaths in the coming years, yet any project not taking these steps into account is condemned to fall because there will not be the basic information to go beyond the start line. Yvan Bozzonetti. --0016e6de048a13a135048df34fa5 Content-Type: text/html; charset=windows-1252 [ AUTOMATICALLY SKIPPING HTML ENCODING! ] Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=32773