Molecular Toxicology

Oxidative Stress and Lipid Peroxidation

Oxidative stress occurs in cells and tissues when there is an imbalance in the production of free radicals and their detoxication by antioxidants. This causes increased damage to cell components such as proteins and DNA. Polyunsaturated lipids in cell membranes are especially prone to free radical damage, and rapidly degrade to a plethora of toxic substances. This includes a range of reactive carbonyl compounds, including unsaturated aldehydes such as malondialdehyde, hydroxyalkenals and acrolein. Work in a number of labs has established that these substances actively propagate tissue damage during oxidative stress. Our Group is actively studying the molecular mechanisms whereby such aldehydes damage the proteome, and is searching for new ways to prevent such damage with drugs.