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