Distribution and turnover of acetaldehyde-modified proteins in liver and blood of ethanol-fed rats.

Previous studies have shown that acetaldehyde (AcH)-modified proteins are formed in the liver and blood of rats fed ethanol-containing diets. In this study we report the application of ELISA techniques to study the subcellular distribution and turnover of AcH-modified proteins in ethanol-fed and control rats. Modified proteins were found in liver mitochondrial, crude membrane and cytosolic fractions, as well as in plasma from ethanol-fed rats. No adducts were detected by our assay in haemolysates from the same animals. The rate of decline of AcH-modified proteins after cessation of ethanol feeding was also examined. Modified liver cytosolic proteins were shown to decline with a half-life of 2.3 weeks, whereas modified plasma adducts declined with a half-life of 4.8 weeks.