Chain reaction in chemistry and physics is a process that produces products capable of initiating subsequent processes of a similar nature. It is a self-sustaining sequence in which the resulting products continue to propagate further reactions. [1] Examples of chain reactions in living organisms are lipid peroxidation in cell membranes [2] and propagation of excitation of neurons in epilepsy. [3]
Nonenzymatic peroxidation occurs through the action of reactive oxygen species (ROS), specifically hydroxyl (HO•) and hydroperoxyl (HO•
2) radicals, which initiate the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Other initiators of lipid peroxidation include ozone (O3), nitrogen oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide. The process of nonenzymatic peroxidation can be divided into three phases: initiation, propagation, and termination.
During the initiation phase, fatty acid radicals are generated, which can propagate peroxidation to other molecules. This occurs when a free radical removes a hydrogen atom from a fatty acid, resulting in a lipid radical (L•) with an unpaired electron.
In the propagation phase, the lipid radical reacts with oxygen (O2) or a transition metal, forming a peroxyl radical (LOO•). This peroxyl radical continues the chain reaction by reacting with a new unsaturated fatty acid, producing a new lipid radical (L•) and lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH). These primary products can further decompose into secondary products.
The termination phase involves the interaction of a radical with an antioxidant molecule, such as α-tocopherol (vitamin E), which inhibits the propagation of chain reactions, thus terminating peroxidation. Another method of termination is the reaction between a lipid radical and a lipid peroxide, or the combination of two lipid peroxide molecules, resulting in stable nonreactive molecules. [4] [5] Reinforced lipids that become part of the membrane if consumed with heavy isotope diet also inhibit peroxidation. [6]
Epilepsy is a neurological condition marked by recurring seizures. It occurs when the brain's electrical activity becomes unbalanced, leading to repeated seizures. These seizures disrupt the normal electrical patterns in the brain, causing sudden and synchronized bursts of electrical energy. As a result, individuals may experience temporary changes in consciousness, movements, or sensations. [7]
Glutamate excitotoxicity is thought to play an important role in the initiation and maintenance of epileptic seizures. The seizure-induced high flux of glutamate overstimulated glutamate receptors, which triggered a chain reaction of excitation in glutamatergic networks. [3]
A chain reaction is a sequence of reactions where a reactive product or by-product causes additional reactions to take place. In a chain reaction, positive feedback leads to a self-amplifying chain of events.
In polymer chemistry, polymerization, or polymerisation, is a process of reacting monomer molecules together in a chemical reaction to form polymer chains or three-dimensional networks. There are many forms of polymerization and different systems exist to categorize them.
Glutathione is an antioxidant in plants, animals, fungi, and some bacteria and archaea. Glutathione is capable of preventing damage to important cellular components caused by sources such as reactive oxygen species, free radicals, peroxides, lipid peroxides, and heavy metals. It is a tripeptide with a gamma peptide linkage between the carboxyl group of the glutamate side chain and cysteine. The carboxyl group of the cysteine residue is attached by normal peptide linkage to glycine.
Rancidification is the process of complete or incomplete autoxidation or hydrolysis of fats and oils when exposed to air, light, moisture, or bacterial action, producing short-chain aldehydes, ketones and free fatty acids.
In molecular biology, biosynthesis is a multi-step, enzyme-catalyzed process where substrates are converted into more complex products in living organisms. In biosynthesis, simple compounds are modified, converted into other compounds, or joined to form macromolecules. This process often consists of metabolic pathways. Some of these biosynthetic pathways are located within a single cellular organelle, while others involve enzymes that are located within multiple cellular organelles. Examples of these biosynthetic pathways include the production of lipid membrane components and nucleotides. Biosynthesis is usually synonymous with anabolism.
Lipid peroxidation is the conversion of lipids to peroxide and hydroperoxide derivatives. These derivatives, known as lipid peroxides or lipid oxidation products (LOPs), are susceptible to further reactions that are relevant to "DNA and protein modification, radiation damage, aging..." Lipid peroxidation mainly applies to unsaturated fats, especially polyunsaturated fats such as those derived from linoleic acid.
Chain-growth polymerization (AE) or chain-growth polymerisation (BE) is a polymerization technique where unsaturated monomer molecules add onto the active site on a growing polymer chain one at a time. There are a limited number of these active sites at any moment during the polymerization which gives this method its key characteristics.
In polymer chemistry, free-radical polymerization (FRP) is a method of polymerization by which a polymer forms by the successive addition of free-radical building blocks. Free radicals can be formed by a number of different mechanisms, usually involving separate initiator molecules. Following its generation, the initiating free radical adds (nonradical) monomer units, thereby growing the polymer chain.
In biochemistry and metabolism, beta oxidation (also β-oxidation) is the catabolic process by which fatty acid molecules are broken down in the cytosol in prokaryotes and in the mitochondria in eukaryotes to generate acetyl-CoA. Acetyl-CoA enters the citric acid cycle, generating NADH and FADH2, which are electron carriers used in the electron transport chain. It is named as such because the beta carbon of the fatty acid chain undergoes oxidation and is converted to a carbonyl group to start the cycle all over again. Beta-oxidation is primarily facilitated by the mitochondrial trifunctional protein, an enzyme complex associated with the inner mitochondrial membrane, although very long chain fatty acids are oxidized in peroxisomes.
A free-radical reaction is any chemical reaction involving free radicals. This reaction type is abundant in organic reactions. Two pioneering studies into free radical reactions have been the discovery of the triphenylmethyl radical by Moses Gomberg (1900) and the lead-mirror experiment described by Friedrich Paneth in 1927. In this last experiment tetramethyllead is decomposed at elevated temperatures to methyl radicals and elemental lead in a quartz tube. The gaseous methyl radicals are moved to another part of the chamber in a carrier gas where they react with lead in a mirror film which slowly disappears.
Malondialdehyde belong to the class of β-dicarbonyls. A colorless liquid, malondialdehyde is a highly reactive compound that occurs as the enol. It is a physiological metabolite, and a marker for oxidative stress.
Reversible addition−fragmentation chain-transfer or RAFT polymerization is one of several kinds of reversible-deactivation radical polymerization. It makes use of a chain-transfer agent (CTA) in the form of a thiocarbonylthio compound to afford control over the generated molecular weight and polydispersity during a free-radical polymerization. Discovered at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) of Australia in 1998, RAFT polymerization is one of several living or controlled radical polymerization techniques, others being atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and nitroxide-mediated polymerization (NMP), etc. RAFT polymerization uses thiocarbonylthio compounds, such as dithioesters, thiocarbamates, and xanthates, to mediate the polymerization via a reversible chain-transfer process. As with other controlled radical polymerization techniques, RAFT polymerizations can be performed under conditions that favor low dispersity and a pre-chosen molecular weight. RAFT polymerization can be used to design polymers of complex architectures, such as linear block copolymers, comb-like, star, brush polymers, dendrimers and cross-linked networks.
The hydroperoxyl radical, also known as the hydrogen superoxide, is the protonated form of superoxide with the chemical formula HO2, also written HOO•. This species plays an important role in the atmosphere and as a reactive oxygen species in cell biology.
Autoxidation refers to oxidations brought about by reactions with oxygen at normal temperatures, without the intervention of flame or electric spark. The term is usually used to describe the gradual degradation of organic compounds in air at ambient temperatures. Many common phenomena can be attributed to autoxidation, such as food going rancid, the 'drying' of varnishes and paints, and the perishing of rubber. It is also an important concept in both industrial chemistry and biology. Autoxidation is therefore a fairly broad term and can encompass examples of photooxygenation and catalytic oxidation.
The Haber–Weiss reaction generates •OH (hydroxyl radicals) from H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) and superoxide (•O2−) catalyzed by iron ions. It was first proposed by Fritz Haber and his student Joseph Joshua Weiss in 1932.
In polymer chemistry photo-oxidation is the degradation of a polymer surface due to the combined action of light and oxygen. It is the most significant factor in the weathering of plastics. Photo-oxidation causes the polymer chains to break, resulting in the material becoming increasingly brittle. This leads to mechanical failure and, at an advanced stage, the formation of microplastics. In textiles the process is called phototendering.
In chemistry, a radical, also known as a free radical, is an atom, molecule, or ion that has at least one unpaired valence electron. With some exceptions, these unpaired electrons make radicals highly chemically reactive. Many radicals spontaneously dimerize. Most organic radicals have short lifetimes.
Free radical damage to DNA can occur as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation or to radiomimetic compounds. Damage to DNA as a result of free radical attack is called indirect DNA damage because the radicals formed can diffuse throughout the body and affect other organs. Malignant melanoma can be caused by indirect DNA damage because it is found in parts of the body not exposed to sunlight. DNA is vulnerable to radical attack because of the very labile hydrogens that can be abstracted and the prevalence of double bonds in the DNA bases that free radicals can easily add to.
Isotope effect is observed when molecules containing heavier isotopes of the same atoms are engaged in a chemical reaction at a slower rate. Deuterium-reinforced lipids can be used for the protection of living cells by slowing the chain reaction of lipid peroxidation. The lipid bilayer of the cell and organelle membranes contain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are key components of cell and organelle membranes. Any process that either increases oxidation of PUFAs or hinders their ability to be replaced can lead to serious disease. Correspondingly, drugs that stop the chain reaction of lipid peroxidation have preventive and therapeutic potential.
Reinforced lipids are lipid molecules in which some of the fatty acids contain deuterium instead of hydrogen. They can be used for the protection of living cells by slowing the chain reaction due to isotope effect on lipid peroxidation. The lipid bilayer of the cell and organelle membranes contain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are key components of cell and organelle membranes. Any process that either increases oxidation of PUFAs or hinders their ability to be replaced can lead to serious disease. Correspondingly, use of reinforced lipids that stop the chain reaction of lipid peroxidation has preventive and therapeutic potential.
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