alpha-oxidation of fatty acids in higher plants. Identification of a pathogen-inducible oxygenase (piox) as an alpha-dioxygenase and biosynthesis of 2-hydroperoxylinolenic acid. (1/203)

A pathogen-inducible oxygenase in tobacco leaves and a homologous enzyme from Arabidopsis were recently characterized (Sanz, A., Moreno, J. I., and Castresana, C. (1998) Plant Cell 10, 1523-1537). Linolenic acid incubated at 23 degrees C with preparations containing the recombinant enzymes underwent alpha-oxidation with the formation of a chain-shortened aldehyde, i.e., 8(Z),11(Z), 14(Z)-heptadecatrienal (83%), an alpha-hydroxy acid, 2(R)-hydroxy-9(Z),12(Z),15(Z)-octadecatrienoic acid (15%), and a chain-shortened fatty acid, 8(Z),11(Z),14(Z)-heptadecatrienoic acid (2%). When incubations were performed at 0 degrees C, 2(R)-hydroperoxy-9(Z),12(Z),15(Z)-octadecatrienoic acid was obtained as the main product. An intermediary role of 2(R)-hydroperoxy-9(Z), 12(Z),15(Z)-octadecatrienoic acid in alpha-oxidation was demonstrated by re-incubation experiments, in which the hydroperoxide was converted into the same alpha-oxidation products as those formed from linolenic acid. 2(R)-Hydroperoxy-9(Z),12(Z), 15(Z)-octadecatrienoic acid was chemically unstable and had a half-life time in buffer of about 30 min at 23 degrees C. Extracts of cells expressing the recombinant oxygenases accelerated breakdown of the hydroperoxide (half-life time, about 3 min at 23 degrees C), however, this was not attributable to the recombinant enzymes since the same rate of hydroperoxide degradation was observed in the presence of control cells not expressing the enzymes. No significant discrimination between enantiomers was observed in the degradation of 2(R,S)-hydroperoxy-9(Z)-octadecenoic acid in the presence of recombinant oxygenases. A previously studied system for alpha-oxidation in cucumber was re-examined using the newly developed techniques and was found to catalyze the same conversions as those observed with the recombinant enzymes, i.e. enzymatic alpha-dioxygenation of fatty acids into 2(R)-hydroperoxides and a first order, non-stereoselective degradation of hydroperoxides into alpha-oxidation products. It was concluded that the recombinant enzymes from tobacco and Arabidopsis were both alpha-dioxygenases, and that members of this new class of enzymes catalyze the first step of alpha-oxidation in plant tissue.  (+info)

Specific protein targets of 13-oxooctadecadienoic acid (13-OXO) and export of the 13-OXO-glutathione conjugate in HT-29 cells. (2/203)

The linoleic acid metabolite, 13-oxooctadecadienoic acid (13-OXO), is reactive with cellular thiols. In the present report, incubations of HT-29 or CaCo-2 homogenates with 13-OXO and GSH indicate that HT-29 cell homogenates produce a 13-OXO-GSH conjugate. The conjugate formed was likely of enzymatic origin as chiral-phase HPLC showed the major product consisted of only one of two possible diastereomers. The glutathione transferase activity (GST), using chlorodinitrobenzene, was found to be 126 nmol/mg/min in HT-29 cells and 21 nmol/mg/min in CaCo-2 cells. These levels of activity are consistent with the relative ability of the two cell lines to conjugate GSH to 13-OXO. Incubation of intact HT-29 cells with either 13-OXO, or the metabolic precursor 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HODE), showed detectable 13-OXO-GSH conjugate in the media, but none in the cells. The stereochemistry of the extracellular conjugate suggested an enzymatic origin. In additional experiments, the labeling of cellular protein by 13-HODE was much more specific than the labeling of protein by 13-OXO suggesting that in situ generation of 13-OXO from 13-HODE confers selectivity on the reactions between cellular thiols and 13-OXO. These results demonstrate that in HT-29 cells, 13-HODE is converted to 13-OXO which then either reacts with cellular protein or is conjugated to GSH by GST. The 13-OXO-GSH conjugate is then exported from the cell.  (+info)

Docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acid prevent a decrease in dopaminergic and serotoninergic neurotransmitters in frontal cortex caused by a linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid deficient diet in formula-fed piglets. (3/203)

This study examined the effects of diets deficient (D) in linoleic [18:2(n-6)] and linolenic acid [18:3(n-3)] at 0.8 and 0.05% energy, respectively, or adequate (C) in 18:2(n-6) and 18:3(n-3) at 8.3 and 0.8% energy, respectively, without (-) or with (+) 0.2% energy arachidonic [20:4(n-6)] and 0.16% energy docosahexaenoic [22:6(n-3)] acid in piglets fed from birth to 18 d. Frontal cortex dopaminergic and serotoninergic neurotransmitters and phospholipid fatty acids were measured. Piglets fed the D- diet had significantly lower frontal cortex dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic (DOPAC), homovanillic acid (HVA), serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) concentrations than did piglets fed the C- diets. Frontal cortex dopamine, norepinephrine, DOPAC, HVA, serotonin and 5-HIAA were higher in piglets fed the D+ compared to those fed the D- diet (P < 0.05) and not different between piglets fed the D+ and those fed the C- diets or the C- and C+ diets. Piglets fed the D- diet had lower frontal cortex phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) 20:4(n-6) and PC and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) 22:6(n-3) than did piglets fed the C- diet (P < 0.05). Piglets fed the D+ diet had higher frontal cortex PC and PI 20:4(n-6) and PC, PE, PS and PI 22:6(n-3) than did piglets fed the D- diet. These studies show that dietary essential fatty acid deficiency fed for 18 d from birth affects frontal cortex neurotransmitters in rapidly growing piglets and that these changes are specifically due to 20:4(n-6) and/or 22:6(n-3).  (+info)

Differential formation of octadecadienoic acid and octadecatrienoic acid products in control and injured/infected potato tubers. (4/203)

Lipoxygenases in plants have been implicated in the activation of defense responses against injury/infection. Pathogen-derived polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and their metabolites have been shown to elicit defense responses against pathogen infection in plants. However, not much is known about the role of host-derived fatty acids and their metabolites in plant defense responses. In this study, isolation and characterisation of endogenous lipoxygenase metabolites formed in potato tubers in response to injury/infection was undertaken. While 9-hydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acid (9-HPODE), derived from octadecdienoic acid (linoleic acid) is the major lipoxygenase product formed in control potato tubers, 9-hydroperoxyoctadecatrienoic acid (9-HPOTrE), derived from octadecatrienoic acid (alpha-linolenic acid) is the major lipoxygenase product formed in potato tubers in response to injury or infection with Rhizoctonia bataticola. As a result, the relative ratio of 9-HPODE to 9-HPOTrE showed a shift from 4:1 in control to 1:2 and 1:4.5 in injured and infected potato tubers respectively. From this study, it is proposed that lipoxygenase metabolites of octadecadienoic acid may be involved in physiological responses under control conditions, while octadecatrienoic acid metabolites are mediating the defense responses. This forms the first report on the differential formation of endogenous lipoxygenase products in potato tubers under control and stress conditions.  (+info)

Modifications of proteins by polyunsaturated fatty acid peroxidation products. (5/203)

The ability of unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters to modify amino acid residues in bovine serum albumin (BSA), glutamine synthetase, and insulin in the presence of a metal-catalyzed oxidation system [ascorbate/Fe(III)/O(2)] depends on the degree of unsaturation of the fatty acid. The fatty acid-dependent generation of carbonyl groups and loss of lysine residues increased in the order methyl linoleate < methyl linolenate < methyl arachidonate. The amounts of alkyl hydroperoxides, malondialdehyde, and a number of other aldehydes that accumulated when polyunsaturated fatty acids were oxidized in the presence of BSA were significantly lower than that observed in the absence of BSA. Direct treatment of proteins with various lipid hydroperoxides led to a slight increase in the formation of protein carbonyl derivatives, whereas treatment with the hydroperoxides together with Fe(II) led to a substantial increase in the formation of protein carbonyls. These results are consistent with the proposition that metal-catalyzed oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids can contribute to the generation of protein carbonyls by direct interaction of lipid oxidation products (alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes) with lysine residues (Michael addition reactions) and also by interactions with alkoxyl radicals obtained by Fe(II) cleavage of lipid hydroperoxides that are formed. In addition, saturated aldehydes derived from the polyunsaturated fatty acids likely react with lysine residues to form Schiff base adducts.  (+info)

(10E,12Z,15Z)-9-hydroxy-10,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid methyl ester as an anti-inflammatory compound from Ehretia dicksonii. (6/203)

The methanol extract of Ehretia dicksonii provided (10E, 12Z, 15Z)-9-hydroxy-10,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid methyl ester (1) which was isolated as an anti-inflammatory compound. Compound 1 suppressed 12-Otetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation on mouse ears at a dose of 500 microg (the inhibitory effect (IE) was 43%). Linolenic acid methyl ester did not inhibit this inflammation at the same dose. However, the related compounds of 1, (9Z,11E)-13hydroxy-9,11-octadecadienoic acid (5) and (9Z,llE)13-oxo-9,11-octadecadienoic acid (6), showed potent activity (IE500 microg of 63% and 79%, respectively). Compounds 1, 4 ((9Z, 12Z, 14E)-16-hydroxy-9,12,14-octadecatrienoic acid), 5 and 6 also showed inhibitory activity toward soybean lipoxygenase at a concentration of 10 microg/ml.  (+info)

A bifunctional delta-fatty acyl acetylenase/desaturase from the moss Ceratodon purpureus. A new member of the cytochrome b5 superfamily. (7/203)

Many plant genes have been cloned that encode regioselective desaturases catalyzing the formation of cis-unsaturated fatty acids. However, very few genes have been cloned that encode enzymes catalyzing the formation of the functional groups found in unusual fatty acids (e.g. hydroxy, epoxy or acetylenic fatty acids). Here, we describe the characterization of an acetylenase from the moss Ceratodon purpureus with a regioselectivity differing from the previously described Delta12-acetylenase. The gene encoding this protein, together with a Delta6-desaturase, was cloned by a PCR-based approach with primers derived from conserved regions in Delta5-, Delta6-fatty-acid desaturases and Delta8-sphingolipid desaturases. The proteins that are encoded by the two cloned cDNAs are likely to consist of a N-terminal extension of unknown function, a cytochrome b5-domain, and a C-terminal domain that is similar to acyl lipid desaturases with characteristic histidine boxes. The proteins were highly homologous in sequence to the Delta6-desaturase from the moss Physcomitrella patens. When these two cDNAs were expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, both transgenic yeast cultures desaturated Delta9-unsaturated C16- and C18-fatty acids by inserting an additional Delta6cis-double bond. One of these transgenic yeast clones was also able to introduce a Delta6-triple bond into gamma-linolenic and stearidonic acid. This resulted in the formation of 9,12,15-(Z,Z,Z)-octadecatrien-6-ynoic acid, the main fatty acid found in C. pupureus. These results demonstrate that the Delta6-acetylenase from C. pupureus is a bifunctional enzyme, which can introduce a Delta6cis-double bond into 9,12,(15)-C18-polyenoic acids as well as converting a Delta6cis-double bond to a Delta6-triple bond.  (+info)

Positional distribution of fatty acids in the glycerophospholipids of Tetrahymena pyriformis. (8/203)

The positional distributions of the fatty acids in the major glycerophospholipids of Tetrahymena pyriformis W were analyzed. A comparison was made of the acyl distributions in normal and ergosterol-grown cells. It was assumed that the positional arrangement of fatty acids would serve as an indicator of acyltransferase enzyme specificity. The acyltransferases in this protozoan have substrate specificities that direct unsaturated groups, particularly polyunsaturates, to the 2-carbon of the glycerophospholipids. An exception is gamma-linolenic acid, which represents a substantial proportion of the total acids at both carbons. Saturated and iso-acids are esterified primarily at the 1-carbon. The qualitative pattern of the fatty acyl distribution is the same in both normal and ergosterol-grown organisms. Sterol substitution produces quantitative differences in the acyl components at both the 1- and 2-carbons of the glycerophospholipids. These differences include a shortening of the average chain length and a decrease in total unsaturation at both the 1- and 2-positions. In addition, there is a modification at the 2-carbon in the relative amounts of the products of two pathways involved in the biosynthesis of fatty acids. The data are interpreted to indicate that the fatty acid transformations in the glycerophospholipids of organisms that contain ergosterol are not the result of altered acyltransferase specificities.  (+info)