title: Vitamin A and glutathione-mediated free radical damage: competing reactions with polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin C.
abstract: Vitamin A (retinol reacts extremely rapidly (k = 1.4 x 10(9) M-1 s-1) with thiyl free radicals derived from glutathione to form a free radical with a very strong visible absorption (lambda max. = 380 nm, E max. = 4.0 x 10(4) M-1 cm-1). Arachidonate, linolenate, linoleate and ascorbate also react readily but much more slowly (k = 2.2 x 10(7), 1.9 x 10(7), 1.3 x 10(7) and 3.6 x 10(8) M-1 s-1 respectively). These results support the possibility that vitamin A might play a role in protecting lipid membranes against thiyl free radical mediated damage.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Nutrition, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Aquino
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dunster
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Willson
mesh_terms: D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005609:Free Radicals; D005978:Glutathione; D007700:Kinetics; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D008042:Linolenic Acids; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014801:Vitamin A; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D005609:Free Radicals; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D008042:Linolenic Acids; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D014801:Vitamin A; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D019787:Linoleic Acid; D005978:Glutathione; D001205:Ascorbic Acid