Dr. Bartholomew Masterson, BSc (NUI), PhD (NUI)

Biochemistry of dioxygen.

Atmospheric oxygen (dioxygen) is essential to Life and its production and consumption in the biosphere is balanced. Manganese is implicated in the photosynthetic production of dioxygen and, significantly, also in mechanisms which protect aerobic cells from by-products of oxygen utilisation. We are studying interactions of oxygen with proteins, and with manganese carboxylate complexes. Also studies on the biophysics of oxygen diffusion in membrane-like media are underway in cooperation with Dr. P.E. O'Connor (Department of Civil Engineering).

Sagar, K. A. and Masterson, B. F. (1988) Biochem. Soc. Trans., 16, 386. Study of the haem of oxyhaemoglobin denatured with alkali.

Scaife, C. and Masterson, B. F. (1988) Biochem. Soc. Trans. 16, 406-407. Proton dissociations of metal complexes of naturally occurring carboxylic acids.

Crowe, M., O'Connor, P. and Masterson, B. (1987) Biochem. Soc. Trans. 15, 260-261. Oxygen diffusion in natural oils and pure triglycerides.

Scaife, C. and Masterson, B. (1985) Biochem. Soc. Trans. 13, 502-503. Effect of alkali and of detergent on the autoxidation of oxyhaemoglobin.

Haemocompatibility of biomaterials: biochemical studies on the surface reactions of blood constituents with artificial materials.

The use of artificial materials in surgery is limited in part by the tendency of these materials to induce clot or thrombus formation, when they are said to be thrombogenic. World-wide efforts are being made to improve existing materials and to find new ones which would be less thrombogenic. We are studying the interactions of blood proteins with artificial surfaces from the biochemical perspective to understanding better the events which induce the clotting response of blood in contact with such surfaces.

Mion, B.J. and Masterson, B.F. (1995) Biochem. Soc. Trans. 23, 390S. Purification of activated factor XII from human plasma using dye-ligand and zinc-chelate chromatography.

Farah, H. S. and Masterson, B. F. (1987) Biochem. Soc. Trans. 15, 272. The reduction of the thrombogenicity of an artificial surface by chemically bound albumin.

Water quality management of Irish recreational waters.

The interest of the Department in water quality management goes back to the work of the late Professor E.J. Conway FRS, such as his studies on the West Pier and Brandy Hole outfalls on Dublin Bay in the early 1940's. More recently, we were involved in studies connected with development of the Present Water Quality Management Plan for Dublin Bay, and projects have been carried out for the European Space Agency involving the use of satellite imagery for the detection of coastal pollution based on the reflectance of bio-substances.

Present work is focused on microbial contamination of bathing waters; public health regulations for recreational bathing waters require that microorganisms which cause illnesses (pathogens) should not exceed certain levels so as to limit the risk of illness to bathers to an acceptable degree. The present European Union Bathing Water Directive relies on indicator organisms (which index the presence of athogens), rather than on pathogens directly. Proposed Directive amendments would require enumeration of enteroviruses, to be eplaced in the future by bacteriophages; present enumeration techniques for these organisms are difficult and expensive.

However, new techniques based, for instance, on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can detect pathogens directly by exploiting their unique genetic features. Basic research is needed, though, to make these techniques fully quantitative, and to adapt them for routine use in water quality laboratories. So, one aspect of our present work is to develop and apply PCR-based techniques to the enumeration of enteroviruses and bacteriophages in Irish conditions, with the proposed Directive amendments in mind.

Masterson, B. F. (1991) Undersea Biomedical Research 18, 197-203. Protection of recreational divers against water-borne microbiological hazards.

Boyle, O. C., Masterson, B. F. and Stapleton, L. (1991) in: Bioindicators and Environmental Management (Jeffrey, D. and Marden, B., ed.) Academic Press, London. pp. 38-54. The use of indicator organisms for the protection of recreational users of estuarine and coastal waters from risks to health.

Masterson, B. F. and Conry-McDermott, D. (1989). in: European Coordinated Effort for Monitoring the Earth's Environment. (Guyenne, .-D. and Calabresi, G., ed.) European Space Agency, Noordwijk. pp. 71-5. Investigation of pollution-related characteristics of Dublin Bay, Ireland.

Masterson, B.F. and Conry-McDermott, D. (1987). Application of Satellite Imagery to the Study of the Water Quality of Irish Coastal Waters: final report. European Space Agency, Frascati.

Masterson, B. F., O'Connor, P. E. and Max, M. D. (1987) Progress in nderwater Science 12, 213-229. Impact of sewage discharges on recreational diving in Dublin Bay, Ireland.

Clarke, J., Masterson, B., Max, M. and O'Connor, P. (1985) A Study of the Impact of Sewage Discharges on the Recreational Quality of South Dublin Bay. Irish Underwater Council, Dublin.

The impact of alterations in protein glycosylation on downstream processing and quality assurance of bovine milk and blood plasma products.

The implications of alterations in the glycosylation status of bovine blood plasma and milk proteins are being examined in relation to industrial processing, with a view to process improvement, product enhancement, new product development, and improved quality assurance.

Biochemical education.

This is on-going interest in the development of techniques for biochemical education based on new technologies; work had been done in the areas of computer-based learning and library user education.

Witts, H. M. and Masterson, B. (1988) Biochem. Soc. Trans. 16, 79-380. Library user education at the secondary literature level for biochemistry undergraduates.