[Influence of the physical structure of phospholipid membranes on peroxidation induced by Fe2+ ions].

Kinetics of free radical lipid peroxidation, induced by Fe2+ in presence of ascorbic acid, was studied in phospholipid membranes. The maximal rate of peroxidative oxidation was observed at 2.5 muM concentration of Fe2+, in this case a half of the maximal amount of peroxidative oxidation products was formed within 20-30 min at 20 degrees and at 200 muM concentration of ascorbic acid. The rate of peroxidative oxidation depended on addition of substances modifying the membrane structure (linoleic acid, cetyl trimethylammonium, Tween-60, derivatives of phenothiazol). Charge of the membrane surface was shown to have a distinct effect on the peroxidative oxidation. Loosening of membranes by non-ion detergent (Tween-60) increased the rate of the process, whereas the increase of the membranes rigidity by cholesterol did not cause any effect. Uneffectiveness of cholesterol is discussed with relation to diffusion of radicals, participating in peroxidative oxidation, from depth of the membrane to its surface and in the opposite direction.