Reorientation of oxidized lipid tails

An oxidized phospholipid tail reverses orientation and brings its polar terminus toward the aqueous interface.

A shortened oxidized lipid tail capped by a polar group can reorient toward the membrane surface, changing the local membrane environment.

Reorientation of an oxidized phospholipid acyl chain from the membrane interior toward the aqueous interface.

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Reference

Khandelia H, Mouritsen OG. Lipid gymnastics: evidence of complete acyl chain reversal in oxidized phospholipids from molecular simulations. Biophysical Journal. 2009;96(7):2734–2743. DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2009.01.007