Iron promoters of the Fenton reaction and lipid peroxidation can be released from haemoglobin by peroxides

Hydrogen peroxide and organic hydroperoxides react with haemoglobin to release iron which can be complexed to apotransferrin, bleomycin and desferrioxamine. This released iron promotes deoxyribose degradation by a Fenton reaction, DNA degradation in the presence of bleomycin and stimulates lipid peroxidation. It is likely that iron released from haemoglobin is the true generator of hydroxyl radicals in the Fenton reaction.