Table 1.

Comparison between n-6 and n-3 PUFA lipid peroxidation products^a

^aFour-HNE and 4-HHE are lipid electrophiles derived from n-6 and n-3 PUFAs, respectively. Both are α,β-unsaturated carbonyl aldehydes and their reactive carbons are marked with stars. However, the electrophilicity index (ώ) of 4-HHE (n-3) is higher than that of 4-HNE (n-6). Consequently, 4-HHE (n-3) has a higher rate constant (k1) than 4-HNE (n-6) during the reaction with the cysteine in glutathione.

^bElectrophilicity index was calculated using Spartan 104 software (Wavefunction).

^cRate constants were measured and reported by Esterbauer et al. (1975).