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 individual components present as intact glycerophospholipids as well as the oxidized fatty acyl groups liberated from the glycerol backbone by saponification. Previously reported studies are summarized in this overview concerning those oxidized products of arachidonic acid derived from the red blood cell membrane, studied by techniques of electrospray tandem mass spectrometry developed to analyze eicosanoid products.