Control of oxygenation in lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase catalysis

Chem Biol. 2007 May;14(5):473-88. doi: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2007.04.007.

Abstract

Lipoxygenases (LOX) and cyclooxygenases (COX) react an achiral polyunsaturated fatty acid with oxygen to form a chiral peroxide product of high regio- and stereochemical purity. Both enzymes employ free radical chemistry reminiscent of hydrocarbon autoxidation but execute efficient control during catalysis to form a specific product over the multitude of isomers found in the nonenzymatic reaction. Exactly how both dioxygenases achieve this positional and stereo control is far from clear. We present four mechanistic models, not mutually exclusive, that could account for the specific reactions of molecular oxygen with a fatty acid in the LOX or COX active site.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Catalysis
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / metabolism
  • Fatty Acids / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lipoxygenase / metabolism*
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Oxygen / chemistry*
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Fatty Acids
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases
  • Lipoxygenase
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
  • Oxygen