Oxidation of glycerophospholipids from biological membranes by reactive oxygen species: liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of eicosanoid products

Peroxidation of glycerophospholipids present in cellular membranes results in the formation of a complex mixture, with many products derived from the oxidation of esterified arachidonic acid. Techniques of chromatography and mass spectrometry have facilitated the elucidation of the structure of indi vidual components present as intact glycerophospholipids as well as the oxi dized fatty acyl groups liberated from the glycerol backbone by saponificat ion. Previously reported studies are summarized in this overview concerning those oxidized products of arachidonic acid derived from the red blood cel l membrane, studied by techniques of electrospray tandem mass spectrometry developed to analyze eicosanoid products. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. Al l rights reserved.