Spectroscopic detection of lipid peroxidation products and structural changes in a sphingomyelin model system

The peroxidation induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide in sphingomyelin from bovine brain was investigated in detail. The lipid peroxidation products resulting from oxidation of lipid acyl chains were detected, identified and characterized by optical absorption. Fourier transform infrared, fluorescence and NMR spectroscopies. The extent of hydrocarbon chain degradation in vitro was quantified by measuring the relative change in absorbance of the peak at 241 nm characteristic of conjugated double bond or diene absorption band. FTIR data revealed that the lipid peroxidation of sphingomyelin disrupted the acyl chain and head group regions resulting in derangement of the ordered membrane.