Role of the bases and phosphoryl bases of phospholipids in the autoxidation of methyl linoleate emulsions

Methyl linoleate, emulsified in borate buffer with sodium lauryl sulfate, was used to study the pro- or antioxidant effect of 0-phosphocholine, 0-phosphoethanolamine, 0-phosphoserine, as well as the corresponding nonphosphoryl compounds. Oxygen uptake was calculated from rate data obtained at 37 C with an oxygen electrode. The results were similar for the corresponding phosphoryl and nonphosphoryl bases. 0-Phosphocholine and choline had little effect at either pH 7.9 or 10.2. 0-Phosphoethanolamine and ethanolamine significantly increased oxygen uptake at pH 7.9, but significantly decreased uptake at pH 10.2. 0-Phosphoserine and serine decreased oxygen uptake at both pH values. The catalytic activities of the bases investigated may be attributed to their functional groups. The phosphoryl and β-hydroxy groups exhibited no catalytic activity in the autoxidation of methyl linoleate emulsions at either pH 7.9 or 10.2. The α-carboxyl amino group of 0-phosphoserine and serine decelerated autoxidation at both pH values. The amino group H₃N⁺ of the primary amine accelerated autoxidation, but the H₂N: group and the reverse effect. Since the quaternary amino group (CH₃)₃N⁺ did not affect autoxidation at either pH 7.9 or 10.2, we concluded that the presence of the N−H bond may be necessary for the prooxidant activity of an amine, and that the presence of a pair of free electrons on the nitrogen of an amine is necessary for its antioxidant activity. Kinetically, the autoxidation of methyl linoleate emulsion without added base was in agreement with Farmer’s proposed mechanism involving a bimolecular dissociation of hydroperoxides. However, methyl linoleate emulsion at pH 7.9 and 37 C in the presence of ethanolamine or 0-phosphoethanolamine was autoxidized by a mechanism involving a combined mono- and bimolecular dissociation of hydroperoxides. Submitted as partial requirement for a Ph.D. degree in Agricultural Chemistry. Presented in part at the AOCS Meeting, San Francisco, April 1969.