A novel fluorescent probe diphenyl-1-pyrenylphosphine to follow lipid peroxidation in cell membranes

Diphenyl-1-pyrrenylphosphine (DPPP) was tested whether it could be used as a fluorescent probe to monitor lipid peroxidation in cell membranes. DPPP reacted with organic hydroperoxides and hydrogen peroxide stoichiometrically to give DPPP oxide (DPPP = O), DPPP incorporated into phosphatidylcholine liposomal membranes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) reacted with methyl linoleate hydroperoxide rapidly but not with hydrogen peroxide nor wi:th tert-butyl hydroperoxide. This novel method revealed that lipid peroxidation proceeded within membranes of PMNs stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, which is known to produce several, kinds of free radicals, It was found that DPPP is a suitable fluorescent probe to monitor lipid peroxidation within cell membranes specifically, (C) 2000 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.