BIOCHEMISTRY

FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY – NICANOR REYES MEDICAL FOUNDATION

LIPID CHEMISTRY

Lipid Function
Transcribed By: JDVQ -Metabolic fuel
Lectured By: Dr. Alcantara 1. Fatty Acid -building blocks for other
lipids
LIPIDS -Main storage form of fatty
- a heterogeneous class of naturally 2. Triglycerides acids and chemical energy in
occurring organic compounds classified adipose
together on the basis of common solubility -Component of membranes
properties 3. -source of arachidonic acid,
Phospholipids Inositol triphosphate and
- insoluble in water diglyceride for signal
- soluble in aprotic/non polar organic transduction (cell to cell
solvents (diethyl ether, chloroform, communication)
methylene chloride, and acetone) -component of membrane
4.
- Amphipathic in nature (both polar & non
Sphingolipids
polar)
In terms of structure, it includes: -component of membranes
Open Chain forms 5. Cholesterol -precursor of bile salts &
fatty acids, triacylglycerols, sphingolipids, steroid hormones
phosphoacylglycerols, glycolipids, -derived from it are: bile acid,
ipid-soluble vitamins (ADEK) steroid hormones & vit D
eicosanoids: prostaglandins, leukotrienes, -lipid digestion & absorption
6. Bile salts of long chain fatty acids
and thromboxanes
-main product of cholesterol
Cyclic forms (benzene ring, benadryn rings
metabolism/degredaton
etc.) -intracellular signal that
7. Steroid regulate gene expression in
hormones(estrogen,testosterones), and bile hormones target cells
acids (readily pass
FUNCTIONS OF LIPIDS: through
1. Energy source – most impt function membrane
- 9 calories per gram fat in the form of TAGS enabling direct
Adipose (TAG) → Fatty acids(oxidation) → action to DNA)
CO2 + H2O + ATP
-regulators of physiological
*1g protein = 9 cal ; 1g
8. Eicosanoids functions
2. Major component of cell membrane (20 C
• Phosphoglycerides – most abundant containing
• Sphingolipids cmpds)
• Free cholesterol
-vision (vit A); calcium metab
9. Vitamins (vit D); antioxidant (vit E);
blood coagulation (vit K)
-Metabolic fuel
10. Ketone -ex.acetoacetic acid,
bodies hydroxybutamic acid
LIPID CLASSIFICATIONS
1. Simple lipids include fats and waxes which
are esters of
fatty acids with various alcohols:
a. Fats: Esters of fatty acids with glycerol.
Oils are fats in the liquid state.
b. Waxes: Esters of fatty acids with
higher molecular weight monohydric alcohols.
2. Complex lipids are esters of fatty acids
containing groups in addition to an alcohol and
one or more fatty acids. They can be divided into
three groups:
a. Phospholipids: Lipids containing, in
addition to fatty acids and an alcohol, a
phosphoric acid residue. They frequently have
nitrogen-containing bases (eg, choline)
and other substituents. In many phospholipids
the alcohol is glycerol (glycerophospholipids),
but in sphingophospholipids it is sphingosine,
which contains an amino group.
b. Glycolipids (glycosphingolipids):
Lipids containing a fatty acid, sphingosine, and
carbohydrate.
c. Other complex lipids: Lipids such as
sulfolipids and amino lipids. Lipoproteins may
also be placed in this category.
3. Precursor and derived lipids: These include
fatty acids, glycerol, steroids, other alcohols,
fatty aldehydes, ketone bodies), hydrocarbons,
lipid-soluble vitamins and micronutrients, and
hormones.
LIPID CLASSES:
1. Fatty acids and derivatives
2. Triacylglycerols (TAG)
3. Wax esters
4. Phospholipids
5. Sphingolipids
6. Isoprenoids
-terpenes
-streoids (steroid hormones & cholesterol)
7. Lipoproteins
1. FATTY ACIDS AND THEIR DERIVATIVES
Chemical formula: R-COOH
*R = represents the alkyl chain composed of
carbon and hydrogen atoms also known as
HYDROCA..
Carboxyl part (COOH) – polar part
Alkyl chain (R) – non polar part due to absence of
O2
Fatty acids are divided into:
Short chain -- 2 to 4 carbon atoms
-initially digested by lingual lipase in saliva then
in stomach by gastric lipase
Medium chain -- 6 to 12 carbon atoms
Long chain -- 14 to 26 or more carbon atoms
-digested by pancreatic lipase
• Human cells = long-chain variety
• Naturally occurring fatty acids: even number of
carbon atoms
R-COOH RCOO- + H+
*presence of carboxylic grp makes it a weak acid
that can ionize to carboxylate
*in blood (pH 7.4), fatty acid pKa=4: charge is
negative, anion
Length of fatty acid plays a role in its chemical
character:
• Usually contain even numbers of carbons (can
contain odd, depending on how they are
biosynthesized)
• FA that contains C=C: unsaturated
*Unsaturated fatty acids have lower melting
points than their saturated counterparts; the
greater the degree of unsaturation, the lower the
melting point
SATURATED FATTY ACIDS
- only single bonds in hydrocarbon chain
- SOLID at room temperature
(Because the regular nature of their aliphatic
chains allows the molecules to be packed in
close, parallel alignment)
- Greater energy needed to melt them
(Because the interaction between neighboring
chains is weak, but the regular packing allows
these forces to operate over a large portion of
the chain)
UNSATURATED FATTY ACID
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- have at least one C = C double bond in the
chains
- LIQUID at room temperature
(Because the cis double bonds interrupt the
packing of the chains)
- Less energy is required to melt them
- The greater the degree of unsaturation, the
lower the melting point
- the cis isomer (opposite side) predominates;
the trans isomer (same side,almost linear) is rare
- The carboxylate is considered as C1
- counting starts at COOH end
- The position of the double bond is denoted by
the carbon atom of the double
In the n or ω (omega) system
- the methyl group is considered as C1
- counting starts at CH3 end

Oleic acid: delta:-Δ9; omega- ω9

Double bonds in the cis form: Linoleic acid: delta:-Δ9-12(consider both
1 double bond= monounsaturated =bond); omega- ω6 (consider = bond near
≥ 2 double bonds= polyunsaturated methyl only)

Descriptive Numeric Δ n/ω

Name #C:#=bon
d
PALMITATE 16:0
PALMITOL 9-16:1 16:1Δ9 16:1n/ω-7
EATE
LINOLEATE 9,12-18:2 18:2 Δ9 8:2 n/ω-6
LINOLENA 9,12,15- 18:3Δ9,12 18:3n/ω-3
TE 18:3 ,15
Occurrence:
*in the figure: 1 bond means 1 double bond Cis double bonds (naturally occurring)
Fish and plant fats have more polyunsaturated - in humans, other animals, plants and bacteria
fatty acids than that of mammals or fowl
2 systems in designating location of double Trans double bonds
bonds (Based on lettering system): - Catalytic hydrogenation of vegetable oils
Δ (delta) system - Margarine, cookies, candies, fried foods

C1 = carboxylate
C2 = α-carbon
C3 = β-carbon
Methyl group = ω-carbon

In the Δ (delta) system

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 Omega -6 family:

Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) – 18C

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
- LINOLEIC & ALPHA-LINOLENIC ACID only
Dihomo-gamma-linoleic acid (DGLA) – 20C
Arachidonic acid – 20C
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) – 18C
- ω -3 & ω -6 family are produced from essential
fatty acids
-3 family from alpha-linolenic acid
-6 family from linoleic acid
by ELONGASE – add C atoms in pairs at delta end
by DESATURASE – form double bond
REMEMBER:
Linoleic acid can be converted to γ-linolenic acid
and Arachidonic acid can be formed from linoleic
in most mammals. Thus, the true essential fatty
acid is Linoleic acid.

Body can synthesize needed fat except linoleic

and alpha-linolenic acid
- body can add double bonds up to carbon 9 from
delta end only
- Δ 12 and Δ15 desaturase (only in plants)-
enzyme that vertebrates lack, disabling us from
producing linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid
- Body CANNOT produce ω -3 and ω -6
- Body CAN produce ω -9 only

Omega -3 family:
Alpha-linoleic acid (ALA)
- Minor component of tissues
- source: Vegetable oils (soy,canola,linseed,
Rapeseed) and leafy vegetables

Eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) - 20C

- Minor component of tissues
- Source: fish & selfish

Docasahexaenoic acid (DHA)

- 22C
- Major component of membrane phospholipids in
retinal photoreceptors, cerebral gray matter, ARACHIDONIC ACID
testes and sperm
- A 20 – carbon Omega 6 Fatty acid with 4
- Source: fish & selfish
double bonds
* Current evidence suggests that diets rich in ω3
fatty acids are beneficial, particularly for - Give rise to Eicosanoids: Prostaglandins,
cardiovascular disease, but also for other chronic Leukotrienes, Thromboxanes and Lipoxins
degenerative diseases such as cancer,
rheumatoid arthritis, and Alzheimer disease

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EICOSANOIDS Omega 3 FA : alpha linolenic acid
- Anti-inflammatory
A. Prostaglandins
- Prostaglandins of the one and three series
- a family of compounds that have the 20-carbon (PGE1 and PGE3 ) and less inflammatory
skeleton of prostanoic acid leukotrienes

- First detected in seminal fluid, from prostate
giving rise to its name
B. Leukotrienes
- Found in white blood cells (leukocytes)
- Consists of 3 conjugated double bonds
*Since they compete for the same enzymes
(elongase& desaturase), the more omega-6 FA
we ingest, the less we are able to utilize the
beneficial influences of the omega-3 FA. Humans
still require both omega-6 and omega-3 fats, but
the optimal ratio is considered to be 2:1

- An important property is constriction of smooth 2. TRIACYLGLYCEROL (TAG)

muscles, especially in the lungs - The main storage forms of fatty acids
*Montelukast to relieve asthma; MOA: decrease - 3 acylglycerols; 3 FA attached to glycerol
leukotriene production)
- Some have 3 identical fatty acids
C. Thromboxane
- In most cases 2 or 3 different FA are present
- Found in thrombocytes
- also called neutral fats, because the carboxyl
- For coagulation groups of the fatty acids are bound in ester
- Thromboxane A2 : most potent in platelet linkage and can no longer function as acids
aggregation *Acylglycerols: esters of fatty acids bound to the
D. Lipoxins sugar alcohol, glycerol (derived from
glyceraldehyde)
Actions of Eicosanoids:
* Acyl group: the fatty acid moiety in lipid esters

TAG mixtures are referred to as fats or oils:

- solid at room temperature

- contain a large proportion of saturated fatty

acids

- usually from animals

Oils - liquid at room temperature


Omega 6 FA : Linoleic acid - relatively high unsaturated fatty acid content
- Pro-inflammatory
- usually from plants
- Arachidonic acid leads to the production of the
inflammatory cascade, prostaglandins and
leukotrienes of the even-series (PGE2, LTE2,
etc.)

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 3. WAXES
- complex mixtures of nonpolar lipids
- also contain hydrocarbons, alcohols, fatty acids,
aldehydes and sterols (steroid alcohols).
- Found as protective coatings for plants and
animals

Examples:

- produced by the leaves of the Brazilian wax

palm
- myricyl cerotate: predominant wax ester
constituent of carnauba wax
General Types with regards to # of FA
bound:
- for ointment base in pharmaceutical
Mono- and Diglycerides
preparations
- not infrequent
- Triacontanoyl palmitate: one of several impt.
- only one or two OH groups of glycerol esterified
wax ester in beeswax
by Fatty Acids

Triglycerides or Triacyglycerides
- All three OH groups of glycerol are Esterified
- Most common lipid material

Uses:
In humans:
- Hydrolyzed by lingual &/or gastric lipase to *before we continue note:
glycerol + FFA, mainly by pancreatic lipase SIMPLE LIPIDS – contain FA & glycerol
- Main storage form (triglyceride)
COMPLEX LIPIDS – have additional molecules
In industry (Phosphates, sugar etc.)
- Production of soap by saponification or alkaline *phospholipid- contains phosphate
hydrolysis due to use of NaOH *glycolipids – contain sugar, alcohol backbone is
- Hydrolyzed by NaOH creating glycerol + H2O glycerol
sol soap

In animals
- Major storage and transport form of FA
- Insulation in low temperatures
- Makes fur and feathers water-repellent

In plants
- Energy reserve in fruits and seeds

SOAPS
• Salts formed by saponification

(animal fats or vegetable oils) with NaOH, in a reaction

called saponification (Latin: sapo=soap)
-insoluble salts when used in water
containing Ca (II), Mg (II), and Fe (III) ions (hard water)

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4. PHOSPHOLIPIDS
2 types:
Phospoglycerides
- Molecules that contain glycerol, fatty acids,
phosphate and alcohol
Spingolipids Biological Importance:
- contain sphingosine instead of glycerol
- classified as sphingolipids due to sphingosine as a. Lecithin / phosphatidylcholine
alcohol backbone - surfactants or surface-acting agents
- Classified as phospholipid due to phosphate - play an essential role in reducing surface
content tension in lung alveoli

PHOSPHOGLYCERIDES/ *imagine a balloon with lots of water inside, it

PHOSPHOACYLGLYCEROL
- Most numerous phospholipids found in cell
membrane
- Found in animal & plant membranes
- second most abundant group of naturally
occurring lipids
- The most common fatty acids in the
phosphoglycerides have 16 to 20 carbons
- Saturated FA usually occur at C-1 of glycerol
(less permeable membrane)
- Unsaturated FA is located at C-2 (more
permeable membrane)
Phosphatidic acid
- simplest phosphoglyceride
- produced when one alcohol group of glycerol is
esterified by a phosphoric acid rather than by a
carboxylic acid
- composed of glycerol-3-phosphate that is
esterified with 2 FA
- parent compound of all phosphoglyceride
molecule
will be hard to inflate
*try putting oil to its wall, it will be easier to
inflate
- increase pulmonary compliance (ability of lungs
and thorax to expand
- prevent atelectasis (collapse of the lung) at the
end of expiration
* Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)
- common in premature infants, usually fatal
- collapsed alveoli due to strong surface tension,
secondary to reduced or absence of lecithin in the
lung
- pneumocyte type 2 produces lecithin
- L/S ratio (lecithin/spingomyelin) in the amniotic
fluid is determined by amniocentesis to predict
the likelihood of RDS in high-risk pregnancies
- Normal ratio- 2:1
- If ratio is 1:2, administer parenteral steroids to
mother to promote fetal lung maturity
- Hyaline Membrane Disease(old name) =Hyaline
membranes appear like eosinophilic, amorphous
material, lining or filling the alveolar spaces and
blocking the gases exchange

Classified according to which ALCOHOL b. Phosphatidylserine &phosphatidylethanolamine

alcohol becomes esterified to
the phosphate group: NAME
Phosphatidylcholine
(PC or Lecithin)
Phosphatidylethanoalmine
(PE or Cephalin)
Phosphatidylserine (PS)
phosphatidylglycerol
diphosphatidylglycerol (dPG) or
Cardiolipin
*2:3:4 = PO4:glycerol:FA
Phosphatidylinositol (PI)
- The highly polar phosphate, choline & serine
groups make these compounds water-soluble,
while their fatty acyl groups confer solubility in
choline nonpolar agents. Hence, they can serve to
cement lipids to membranes and lipoproteins to
ethanolamime the polar proteins and carbohydrates.
serine *Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL)
glycerol test
phosphatidyly - Serologic test for syphilis
glycerol - utilizes cardiolipin as the antigen
myoinositol

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5. SPHINGOLIPIDS
- contain sphingosine (long chain amino alcohol)
or one of its derivatives
- Found in plants and animals
- Abundant in nervous system for normal cell
function in brain
- Bares structural similarity to phospholipids
- Consist of ceramide bound to an oligosaccharide
that contains an acidic sugar such as N-
acetylneuraminicacid
**CERAMIDE
- Plays an important role in the formation of 4 classes
- consist of a fatty acid bound to sphingosine
- parent compound/backbone of sphingolipids
**SULFATIDES- sulfated cerebrosides, or cerebroside-
sulfate esters.
6. ISOPRENOIDS
- With repeating 5 carbon units (isoprene)

- TYPES: A. Terpenes B. Steroids

A. TERPENES – in perfumes

Terpenes # of isoprene Source

units
Monoterpene 2 Geraniol in oil
of geranium
Sesquiterpene 3 Farnesence in
Substituent attached to the C1-hydroxyl oil of citronella
group of sphingosine separates Diterpenes 4 Phytol (plant
sphingolipids into 4 classes: alcohol)
Squalene in
shark liver oil
a) SPHINGOMYELIN Triterpenes 6 Olive oil &
yeast
- phosphocholine attached to the C1-hydroxyl
group Tetraterpenes 8 Carotenoids
(vit A)
- generated by joining choline phosphate or Polyterpenes 3,000-6,000 Natural rubber
ethanolamine phosphate to ceramides

- important components of the myelin sheath Prenyl or Isoprenyl groups

surrounding the fastest conducting fiber
- biomolecules that are composed of nonterpene
b) CEREBROSIDES components attached to isoprenoid groups
- monosaccharide attached to the C1-hydroxyl - examples of these biomolecules are referred to
group as mixed terpenoids
- They consist of a hexose sugar, such as glucose - includes:
or galactose, bound to a ceramide
 -tocopherol)
- These ceramide-monosaccharides are also part 
of the myelin sheath 

c) GLOBOSIDE

- oligosaccharide attached to the C1-hydroxyl B. STEROIDS

group - Complex derivatives of triterpenes
d) GANGLIOSIDES
- all composed of 4 fused rings
- found in all eukaryotes and a small number of bacteria
- oligosaccharide and sialic acid attached to the
C1-hydroxyl group Structure:

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  cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene ring -
steroid nucleus that consists of three fused
cyclohexane rings (A,B,C) joined to a
cyclopentene ring (D))
 do not contain aromatic rings except ESTROGEN
 C3 &C7 always has side groups
 each type is distinguished by placement of C-C
double bonds and other substituents (hydroxyl,
carboxyl, alkyl)
Sterol – steroids w/ 27 to 29 C atoms & an OH
grp at C3
CHOLESTEROL - major human sterol
- essential component in animal cell membranes
- precursor of all steroid hormones, vitamin D,
and bile salts
*Free cholesterol (3 hydroxy-5,6-cholestin)
- present in cell membrane, amphiphatic
*Cholesteryl ester
- with attached unsaturated FA in OH at C3
- consists of FA & cholesterol, nonpolar
* Ergosterol-7-dehydrocholesterol
-plant source
*Some sources of cholesterol:
Egg – more than 200mg of cholesterol
Shrimp- almost 200mg cholesterol
Bile acid
- End product of cholesterol degradation
- 24-C steroids secreted into the bile to emulsify
dietary fats
- Cholic acid is a major human bile acid
HORMONES
Types: Sex Hormones, Glucocorticosteroids,
Mineralocorticoteroids
SIDE CHAIN CLEAVAGE- process of converting
cholesterol to different hormones (cutting OH)
1. SEX HORMONES:
Androgens (male sex hormone)
- Synthesized in testes (leydig cells) & adrenal
cortex
- Responsible for the dev’t of male secondary sex
characteristics
*TESTOSTERONE
– 19 carbon atoms (Carbons 18 and 19 are in
methyl groups)
– one of the more potent androgen
– unlike testosterone, is a 17-ketosteroid
AROMATIZATION- process of converting
testosterone to estrogen by aromatase
- “OVARIAN STEROID”
- Synthesized in ovaries, also present in adipose
- Responsible for the dev’t of female secondary
sex characteristics
- Control of menstrual cycle
*ESTROGEN
– Contain 18 carbon atoms (Carbon 18 is found
in a methyl group)
– Unlike other steroids, the A ring of the steroid
nucleus of estrogen is aromatic
– Estradiol has OH groups attached to carbons 3
and17
PROGESTERONE
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– synthesized in the corpus luteum
– cointain 21 carbons (as do the adrenocortical
steroids)
– has an acetyl group joined at carbon 17
2. GLUCOCORTICOSTEROIDS
- Produced by adrenal cortex
- Raise serum glucose level
- hydroxyl or keto group at carbon 11 is found to
correlate with glucocorticoid activity
*CORTISOL
– potent glucocorticoid with weak
mineralocorticoid activity
– Detected by urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroid
assay that detects all 21-carbon steroids with a
17-OH group
3. MINERALOCORTICOSTEROIDS
- Produced by adrenal cortex
- Promote renal sodium retention
ALDOSTERONE
– potent mineralocorticoid (presumably due to its
aldehyde group at carbon 18) but a weak
glucocorticoid
7. LIPOPROTEIN
- Lipids must bind to proteins to make them
water soluble for transport in the blood
*Free fatty acids, for example, avidly bind to
serum albumin and will displace albumin-bound
drugs from their binding sites
Each type of lipoprotein contains:
- a neutral lipid core: composed of Cholesteryl
esters and TAG (2 major non polar lipids)
-The core is surrounded by a layer of
Phospholipid, free cholesterol and protein
- Charged and polar residues on the surface of
a lipoprotein enable it to dissolve in blood
- Transport nonpolar lipids to the blood by
packaging it in the form of Alipoprotein
Two laboratory techniques are used to
separate lipoproteins from one another:
Ultracentrifugation - separates them
according to their differing densities
Electrophoresis - separates them on a basis
of their varying net charges
CHYLOMICRONS
- the least dense because it consist mainly of
triglycerides with small amounts of cholesterol,
phospholipids &proteins
- do not migrate when subjected to
electrophoresis, because their high triglyceride
(no charge)content
- blood appears milky due to the high
concentration of chylomicrons after a fatty meal
- Lipoprotein lipase hydrolyzes triglycerides
bound in lipoproteins yielding monoglycerides
and free fatty acids
- Heparin, an anticoagulant, also helps to clear
chylomicrons from the blood
- Produced in small intestines
HYPERCHYLOMICRONEMIA /
FREDERICKSON‘S TYPE 1
HYPERLIPOPROTEINEMIA
- inherited absence of lipoprotein lipase
VERY LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN (VLDL)
- Contain principally triglycerides, but greater
protein, phospholipid & cholesterol content than
chylomicrons
- Pre-β Lipoproteins (protein and phospholipid
makes them charged so that they migrate just
before the βglobulins in electrophoresis)
- VLDL is synthesized in the liver
- This VLDL fraction is markedly elevated in
TYPE IV HYPERLIPOPROTEINEMIA
LOW DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN (LDL)
- contain mainly cholesterol, in contrast to the
content of chylomicrons and VLDL
- also contains appreciable amounts of proteins,
phospholipids, and triglycerides
- β-lipoproteins(Because they migrate together
with the β-globulins)
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- LDL fraction is markedly elevated in TYPE II
HYPERLIPOPROTEINEMIA and is associated with
ATHEROSCLEROSIS(hardening of arteries)
HIGH DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS (HDL)
- contain mainly protein and phospholipid
- contain significant amounts of cholesterol, but
have little triglyceride
- The high protein, low triglyceride content
makes them very dense
- They are termed α-Lipoproteins and are
separated from other lipoproteins by
electrophoresis
Main Transport of:
Cholesterol
- LDL (transport to different tissue)
- HDL (reverse transport-tissue to liver,
scavenger of cholesterol)
Triglycerides
- chylomicrons (exogenous)
- VLDL (endogenous)
men - HDL levels of 40 mg/dL or greater
women -50 mg/dL
BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANE
*not focused much in lecture
*Major lipids – Phospholipids, glycolipids,
Cholesterol
In animal: Have cholesterol & less fluid than
plant membrane
*Bilipidlayer
- presence of cis unsaturation makes it more
permeable
COMPOSITION OF DIETARY FATS:
o Mixture or fatty acid derivatives
o Fats from animals have more saturated fats
than from plants
Saturated FA =↑ HDL, ↑ LDL
Mono-UFA = ↑ HDL, ↓ LDL
PUFA maintains HDL, ↓ LDL
Trans FA = ↓ HDL, ↑ LDL
LIPID PEROXIDATION
Peroxidation
- exposure of lipids to O2
- Causes deterioration of food (rancidity)
- May cause tissue damage leading to cancer,
inflammatory diseases, atherosclerosis, aging,
etc.
Free radicals (Ko, KOo, KOOo, OHo)
- produced during peroxide formation from fatty
acids containing methyleneinterrupted double
bonds, such as those found in naturally-occuring
PUFA
Chain reaction producing continuous supply
of free radicals that initiate peroxidation:
1.Initiation
• ROOH + metal (n+1) → ROO0+ metal (n-1)
• RH + X → R0 + XH
2.Propagation
• R0 + O2 → ROOH
• ROO0 + RH → ROOH + R0, etc
3.Termination
• ROO0 + ROO0 → ROOR + O2
• ROO0 + R0 → ROOR
• R0 + R0 → RR
CLASSES OF ANTIOXIDANT
Preventive antioxidants
- Reduce the rate of chain initiation
- Ex. Catalase, Chelators of metal ions(DTPA –
diethylenetriaminepentaacetate &EDTA-
ethylenediaminetetraacetate)
Chain-breaking antioxidants
- Interfere with chain propagation
- Ex. Phenols, Aromatic amines
• In vivo, superoxide dismutase which acts on
aqueous phase to trap superoxide free radicals
(O-o)
• Peroxidation is also catalyzed by heme
compounds and by lipooxygenases found in
platelets and leukocytes
References:
- Transcribed Notes of Wini Ong(Flow,
structure and wordings are similar added
only new info and graphs according to our
lectures by Dr. Alcantara)
- Harper’s Biochemistry 30th Edition
Improvidus apto quod victum
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