Harmful Effects of Free Radicals at the Cellular Level
What Are Free Radicals?
Free radicals are highly reactive molecules that contain unpaired electrons in their outer shell. This makes them unstable and eager to "steal" electrons from other molecules to achieve stability.
Think of free radicals like molecular thieves - they're always looking to steal electrons from nearby molecules to complete their own electron pairs!
Sources of Free Radicals
Free radicals can come from both internal and external sources:
- Natural metabolic processes
- Exercise (especially intense physical activity)
- Environmental factors (pollution, UV radiation)
- Poor diet
- Smoking
- Alcohol consumption
Cellular Damage Caused by Free Radicals
1. Lipid Peroxidation
- Free radicals attack cell membrane lipids
- Creates a chain reaction of damage
- Results in:
- Membrane fluidity changes
- Decreased cell membrane integrity
- Potential cell death
Imagine dominos falling - when free radicals attack one lipid molecule, it creates another free radical, which attacks the next lipid, and so on, creating a destructive chain reaction in the cell membrane.
2. Protein Damage
- Oxidation of protein structures
- Alteration of protein function
- Can lead to:
- Enzyme dysfunction