Model of lipid oxidation.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), denoted by open sites, are present in the lipid membranes of cells. Reactive oxygen species can oxygenate a PUFA, resulting in a depleted PUFA that reduces the flexibility of the lipid membrane. Deuterated PUFAs are resistant to the oxygenation. Adding a certain percentage of deuterated PUFAs to the membrane can drastically reduce the length of the depleted lipid chain. The simulation was initiated with a single oxygenated PUFA at the origin.