Mono Alkylating agents as therapeutic agents in plasma sterilization and plasma protein stabilization

Abstract

Summary o 1. Monochloroacetate is an effective bacteriostatic agent and has varying bactericidal ability according to the bacteria tested. It is less potent in this regard than the other halogens in bactericidal effect but it is, on the other hand, far less toxic. 2. Monochloroacetate, as with the other halogen acetates, inhibits the aggregation of proteins during denaturation by heat, by blocking the sulfhydryl groups which form covalent bonds between the — SH groups of albumin and those of the other proteins. This generally causes favorable stabilization of plasma proteins when subjected to heat or other denaturing agents. This is an added beneficial factor in protecting against protein loss in long term plasma storage. 3. Plasma treated with monochloroacetate did not form antigenic compounds in the plasma on subsequent infusions. The nutritional aspect of plasma was not impaired in long range chronic toxicity experiments. 4. It is hoped from work now being carried on in this laboratory that its interference with RNA and DNA metabolism will prove it valuable as a therapeutic agent.