Immunological detection of acetaldehyde-protein adducts in ethanol-treated carrot cells

Polyclonal antibodies able to recognize protein-acetaldehyde conjugates were produced and characterized. The antibodies react with sodium cyanoborohydride-reduced Schiff's bases between acetaldehyde and a protein, independently of the nature of the macromolecule binding the acetaldehyde moiety. Only conjugates between acetaldehyde or propionaldehyde and a protein are recognized; conjugates obtained with other aldehydes are not reactive. Results concerning the formation of acetaldehyde adducts with carrot (Daucus carota L.) proteins are presented as well as the presence of such conjugates in ethanol-treated carrot cell cultures, a system highly sensitive to the presence of ethanol in the culture medium.