Journal of Clinical & Experimental Pathology
Open Access

Abstract

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy/microscopy can be successfully used to monitor pathology-induced structural and functional molecular changes in biological systems. Amifostine (WR-2721) is the only approved radioprotective agent by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Here, using FTIR spectroscopy/microscopy together with neural network (NN) approach, the restoring effect of amifostine on ionizing radiation-induced damages and the sole effects of amifostine on lipids and proteins of healthy rat liver microsomal membranes and brain tissues are reported. NN approach is commonly used to predict the protein secondary structure. The results revealed that radiation induced significant alterations in the concentration, composition, structure and function of lipids in the liver microsomal membranes [1] and white matter (WM) and grey matter (GM) regions of brain tissues [2] and amifostine restores radiation-induced damages in these systems. Radiation also causes significant changes in the secondary structure of proteins by inducing an increase in the turn and random coil structures which are restored by amifostine treatment [1,2]. However no significant changes were observed in healthy systems in terms of molecular concentration, lipid structure and protein secondary structure due to amifostine which indicated that amifostine is non-toxic for the biological systems and can be successfully used as a radioprotectant agent in radiotherapy. Supported by TUBITAK-SBAG-2939) and METU. F

Biography

Feride Severcan completed her M.Sc. from Rochester University, Ph.D. from Hacettepe University, postdoctoral study from Stanford University. She worked as a lecturer and researcher in San-Francisco State University, visiting scientist in Perugia, Bath and De-Montford Universities. She joined to the Biology Department of METU as a Professor of Biophysics, where she chaired the Department for three years. She is the leader of the Molecular Biophysics research group and published more than 100 papers in SCI journals. Dr. Severcan has several book chapters and a Book on Vibrational Spectroscopy on Screening and Diagnosis (IOS Press-2012) and serving as an editorial board member of two spectroscopy journals.