X-Message-Number: 3641
Date: 08 Jan 95 13:41:38 EST
From: yvan Bozzonetti <>
Subject: SCI.CRYONICS : Bolt proposal

Cryoprotectants are used to limit the cold destructions on cells membranes, 
most of these products are toxic, so it would be fine to discover a way to 
discard their use. Flash freezing is a solution if it can be implemented at 
a realistic cost. Here, I suggest another way to explorate.

All living cells can be sorted out in three packs, acording their membrane 
properties: The worst are the eucoryotic cells of plants and animals, their 
phospholipids basic building blocks are very sensitive to low temperature. 
such membrane get punctured and broke down often when frozen. Next come 
bacteria with far more sturdy membranes, bacteria seem to have no problem 
surviving LN2 temperature. Membrane composition is not the only factor 
implied but it must take a significant part. The best membranes are found 
in archeobacteria, with very high resistance to any disturbance, whatever 
the temperature.

I suggest the following simple research: What look like at frozen bacteria 
membrane? An archeobacteria one? How it compare with eucoryotic cell ? That 
could be done by a student in an University lab. at very low cost, the 
results could be enormous for cryonics.

Next, we know high voltage electric discharge can induce cell membrane 
fusion whatever the cell kinds. (small electrostatic generators, such the 
ones sold by Edmund Scientific Co. can do the job) .If we fuse an 
eucoryotic cells with an archeobacteria for example, what is the cold 
behavior of the resulting system? Yes, I know molecular diffusion is 
restricted in cell membranes by the underlying protein net. Some cancer 
cells have lost that net and could form the best test set.

If such cells could be cold proof and not too disturbed, it could be 
interesting to think about ways to introduce new componements in a membrane 
cell.

	Y.B.


Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=3641