Lipid peroxidation propagation reactions

Since the peroxyl and alkyl radicals are regenerated, the cycle of propagation could continue indefinitely or until one or other of the substrates are consumed. However, experimentally the length of the propagation chain, which can be defined as the number of lipid molecules converted to lipid peroxide for each initiation event, is finite. This is largely because the cycle is not 100% efficient with peroxyl radicals being lost through radical-radical termination reactions (Reaction 2.4 in Scheme 2.1). 

Mouse peritoneal macrophages that have been activated to produce nitric oxide by 7-interferon and lipopolysac-charide were shown to oxidize LDL less readily than unactivated macrophages. Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis in the same model was shown to enhance LDL oxidation (Jessup etal., 1992 Yates a al., 1992). It has recently been demonstrated that nitric oxide is able to inhibit lipid peroxidation directly within LDL (Ho etal., 1993c). Nitric oxide probably reacts with the propagating peroxyl radicals thus terminating the chain of lipid peroxidation. The rate constant for the reaction between nitric oxide and peroxyl radicals has recently been determined to be 1-3 X10 M" s (Padmaja and Huie, 1993). This... 

These reactions, if of sufficient magnitude, would result in the formation of non-radical, nitrogen-containing species, thereby stopping the propagation cycle of lipid peroxidation. 

As exemplified in Figure 2, Type 1 mechanism, electron transfer from L to sens yields two radicals, the substrate radical, L", and the sensitizer radical anion (sens ). In the next step, the lipid radical may induce a chain peroxidation cascade involving propagation reactions -The sensitizer radical anion may also start a sequential one-electron reduction of 2 generating HO in the presence of reduced transition metals. As a result, this may lead to abstraction of a lipid allylic hydrogen with subsequent generation of a carbon-centered lipid radical, L, that is rapidly oxidized to a peroxyl radical (vide supra). 

This cascade however may be propagated throughout the cell unless terminated by a protective mechanism (see below) or a chemical reaction such as disproportionation, which gives rise to a non-radical product. Polyunsaturated fatty acids, found particularly in membranes, are especially susceptible to free radical attack. The effects of lipid peroxidation are many and various. Clearly, the structural integrity of membrane lipids will be adversely affected. In the lipid radical produced, the sites of unsaturation may change, thereby altering the fluidity of the membrane (see chap. 3). Lipid radicals may interact with other lipids and... 

Figure 28.5. Initiation, propagation, and termination reactions in lipid peroxidation. (Adapted from Bus, J. S. and Gibson, J. E. Rev. Biochem. Toxicol. 1, 125, 1979.)...

Fig. 3. Autoxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in phospholipid membranes. Addition of oxygen to lipid free radicals is extremely fast. It yields peroxyl radicals ROO which will tend to capture labile hydrogen atoms of neighbouring polyunsaturated lipids. Accidentally produced free radicals will therefore initiate a chain reaction of lipid peroxidation which will propagate along membranes. This process can result in several dozen propagation steps before it is stopped by a termination reaction. Examples of such termination reactions are the recombination of peroxyl radicals and the formation of a stable free radical from a free radical scavenger (scavH). Termination through recombination of low steady-state concentration of alkyl radicals is unlikely in aerobic medium.

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