How does oxidative damage change peptide membrane insertion?

The insertion of peptides and proteins into cell membranes is crucial for the functioning of cells. Cells are continually subject to oxidation events. In this continuation experiment we will use neutron reflection to investigate how oxidative damage changes the interaction of the well-studied model peptide melittin with cell membrane models. In our previous work we observed changes in the membrane structure when oxidised lipids were present in the membrane, in this experiment we wish to extract more detailed structural information by using a deuterated form of the oxidized lipid, not previously available, that will allow us to clearly differentiate between the lipid and peptide components. The results will help us understand better the factors that influence the interaction of different peptides with cell membranes, and how that interaction is changed by oxidative damage.