Mechanisms of enhancing UV lihg-induced lipid peroxidation in isolated erythrocyte membranes by organohalogen compounds

It was found that a number of halogen-containing compounds (chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, difluorodichloromethane, sodium trichloroacetate) enhance the lipid peroxidation induced by UV light (265-300 nm) in isolated erythrocyte membranes. It was shown that the enhancement is realized with participation of excited states of membrane protein tryptophanyls, which may induce the reduction of halogen-containing compounds with formation of radicals having a high oxidative activity. Moreover, halogen-containing compounds decrease the antioxidant protection of membrane lipids owing to an increase in quantum yield of alpha-tocopherol photodestruction.