Unsaturated Lipide Oxidation Catalyzed by Hematin Compounds*

Hematin catalysis of unsaturated lipide oxidation is probably a primary reaction in many types of pathological unsaturated fat oxidation in viva (l-3) and in the spoilage of frozen meat products by oxidative fat rancidity (4). Some of the properties of hematin catalysis have been described (4-8), but knowledge of the reaction mechanism and the reaction products is relatively meager. The catalytic activity of myoglobin is unknown. The structural requirements for the reactants have not been characterized. Hematin catalysis may involve only a peroxidative reaction @-lo), but the possibilities of a direct oxidative reaction between the hematin compound and the unsaturated lipide have not been eliminated. It is the purpose of this research to broaden our knowledge of unsaturated lipide oxidation catalyzed by hematin compounds and to define more precisely the mechanism of the reaction.