Friederike Kogelheide

A dielectric barrier discharge terminally inactivates RNase A by oxidizing sulfur-containing amino acids and breaking structural disulfide bonds

RNases are among the most stable proteins in nature. They even refold spontaneously after heat inactivation, regaining full activity. Due to their stability and universal presence, they often pose a problem when experimenting with RNA. We investigated the capabilities of nonthermal atmospheric-pressure plasmas to inactivate RNase A and studied the inactivation mechanism on a molecular level. While prolonged heating above 90 °C is required for heat inactivating RNase A, direct plasma treatment with a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) source caused permanent inactivation within minutes. Circular dichroism spectroscopy showed that DBD-treated RNase A unfolds rapidly. Raman spectroscopy indicated methionine modifications and formation of sulfonic acid. A mass spectrometry-based analysis of the protein modifications that occur during plasma treatment over time revealed that methionine sulfoxide formation coincides with protein inactivation. Chemical reduction of methionine sulfoxides partially restored RNase A activity confirming that sulfoxidation is causal and sufficient for RNase A inactivation. Continued plasma exposure led to over-oxidation of structural disulfide bonds. Using antibodies, disulfide bond over-oxidation was shown to be a general protein inactivation mechanism of the DBD. The antibodys heavy and light chains linked by disulfide bonds dissociated after plasma exposure. Based on their ability to inactivate proteins by oxidation of sulfur-containing amino acids and over-oxidation of disulfide bonds, DBD devices present a viable option for inactivating undesired or hazardous proteins on heat or solvent-sensitive surfaces.

FTIR spectroscopy of cysteine as a ready-to-use method for the investigation of plasma-induced chemical modifications of macromolecules

A rapid screening method for the investigation of plasma-induced chemical modifications was developed by analyzing cysteine using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Cysteine is a key amino acid in proteins due to the presence of a thiol group which provides unique structural features by offering the possibility to form disulfide bonds. Its chemical composition makes cysteine a well-suited model for the investigation of plasma-induced modifications at three functional groups—the amino, the carboxyl and the thiol group—all highly abundant in proteins. FTIR spectroscopy is present in most physical laboratories and offers a fast way to assess changes in the chemical composition of cysteine substrates due to plasma treatment and to compare different treatment conditions or plasma sources with each other. Significant changes in the fingerprint spectra of cysteine samples treated with a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) compared to untreated controls were observed using a FTIR spectrometer. The loss of the thiol signal and the simultaneous increase of bands originating from oxidized sulfur and nitrogen species indicate that the thiol group of cysteine is modified by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species during DBD treatment. Furthermore, other plasma-induced modifications, such as changes of the amino and carbonyl groups, could be observed. Complementary mass spectrometry measurements confirmed these results.

Elucidation of Plasma-induced Chemical Modifications on Glutathione and Glutathione Disulphide

Cold atmospheric pressure plasmas are gaining increased interest in the medical sector and clinical trials to treat skin diseases are underway. Plasmas are capable of producing several reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). However, there are open questions how plasma-generated RONS interact on a molecular level in a biological environment, e.g. cells or cell components. The redox pair glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulphide (GSSG) forms the most important redox buffer in organisms responsible for detoxification of intracellular reactive species. We apply Raman spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and molecular dynamics simulations to identify the time-dependent chemical modifications on GSH and GSSG that are caused by dielectric barrier discharge under ambient conditions. We find GSSG, S-oxidised glutathione species, and S-nitrosoglutathione as oxidation products with the latter two being the final products, while glutathione sulphenic acid, glutathione sulphinic acid, and GSSG are rather reaction intermediates. Experiments using stabilized pH conditions revealed the same main oxidation products as were found in unbuffered solution, indicating that the dominant oxidative or nitrosative reactions are not influenced by acidic pH. For more complex systems these results indicate that too long treatment times can cause difficult-to-handle modifications to the cellular redox buffer which can impair proper cellular function.

Phase resolved analysis of the homogeneity of a diffuse dielectric barrier discharge

Cold atmospheric pressure plasmas have already proven their ability of supporting the healing process of chronic wounds. Especially simple configurations like a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD), comprising of one driven electrode which is coated with a dielectric layer, are of interest, because they are cost-effective and easy to handle. The homogeneity of such plasmas during treatment is necessary since the whole wound should be treated evenly. In this investigation phase resolved optical emission spectroscopy is used to investigate the homogeneity of a DBD. Electron densities and reduced electric field distributions are determined with temporal and spatial resolution and the differences for applied positive and negative voltage pulses are studied.

Chemical fingerprints of cold physical plasmas – an experimental and computational study using cysteine as tracer compound

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species released by cold physical plasma are being proposed as effectors in various clinical conditions connected to inflammatory processes. As these plasmas can be tailored in a wide range, models to compare and control their biochemical footprint are desired to infer on the molecular mechanisms underlying the observed effects and to enable the discrimination between different plasma sources. Here, an improved model to trace short-lived reactive species is presented. Using FTIR, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and molecular dynamics computational simulation, covalent modifications of cysteine treated with different plasmas were deciphered and the respective product pattern used to generate a fingerprint of each plasma source. Such, our experimental model allows a fast and reliable grading of the chemical potential of plasmas used for medical purposes. Major reaction products were identified to be cysteine sulfonic acid, cystine, and cysteine fragments. Less-abundant products, such as oxidized cystine derivatives or S-nitrosylated cysteines, were unique to different plasma sources or operating conditions. The data collected point at hydroxyl radicals, atomic O, and singlet oxygen as major contributing species that enable an impact on cellular thiol groups when applying cold plasma in vitro or in vivo.