Abstract for submission to ACS National Conference; Denver, CO; March 2015 Division: Biological Chemistry Session: Graduate Student & Postdoctoral Symposium Amani Alhalwani1, Jana Huang1, Paul Wilson2, John E. Repine2, J. Alex Huffman1 1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Denver 2Webb-Waring Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine Environmental exposure to airborne pollutants in urban areas can not only cause physical damage to non-living surfaces, plants, and animals, but also contribute to allergies, inflammation, respiratory distress, and ocular problems in humans. The exact mechanisms responsible for these abnormalities are unknown but nitration reactions initiated by urban nitrogen oxide chemistry can affect a variety of processes at environmental surfaces and, more specifically, may promote nitration of tyrosine residues within proteins in living systems. Dry eye syndrome is among the most prevalent ocular conditions in older adults, affecting 40-60 million adults over 50 years of age, but its cause is unclear. We hypothesized that reaction of nitrogen oxides can disrupt proteins on the eye surface. Our preliminary results will focus on the effects of nitrogen oxides on lactoferrin. Lactoferrin (LF) is a key protein in the eye and serves as a biomarker for dry eye syndrome. First, nitration of tyrosine residues in pure LF was initiated via reaction with liquid netranitromethane and the degree of nitration will be monitored via enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Second, nitration of LF will be investigated using cultured corneal epithelial cells in vitro. Nitration will be monitored using ELISA and morphology assessed using confocal fluorescence microscopy. These initial results will serve to further understand the causes and provide systems for testing therapeutic strategies for dry eye syndrome.

Investigating the link between environmental exposure and dry eye syndrome

249th National Meeting (2015)

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