Mutations at the C-terminal isoleucine and other potential iron ligands of 5-lipoxygenase

OTUD3: A Lys6 and Lys63 specific deubiquitinase in early vertebrate development

Ubiquitination and deubiquitylation regulate essential cellular processes and involve hundreds of sequentially acting enzymes, many of which are barely understood. OTUD3 is an evolutionarily highly conserved deubiquitinase involved in many aspects of cellular homeostasis. However, its biochemical properties and physiological role during development are poorly understood. Here, we report on the expression of OTUD3 in human tissue samples where it appears prominently in those of neuronal origin. In cells, OTUD3 is present in the cytoplasm where it can bind to microtubules. Interestingly, we found that OTUD3 cleaves preferentially at K6 and K63, i.e., poly-ubiquitin linkages that are not primarily involved in protein degradation. We employed Xenopus embryos to study the consequences of suppressing otud3 function during early neural development. We found that Otud3 deficiency led to impaired formation of cranial and particularly of cranial neural crest-derived structures as well as movement defects. Thus, OTUD3 appears as a neuronally enriched deubiquitinase that is involved in the proper development of the neural system.

Iron and manganese lipoxygenases of plant pathogenic fungi and their role in biosynthesis of jasmonates

Lipoxygenases (LOX) contain catalytic iron (FeLOX), but fungi also produce LOX with catalytic manganese (MnLOX). In this review, the 3D structures and properties of fungal LOX are compared and contrasted along with their associations with pathogenicity. The 3D structures and properties of two MnLOX (Magnaporthe oryzae, Geaumannomyces graminis) and the catalysis of five additional MnLOX have provided information on the metal center, substrate binding, oxygenation, tentative O₂ channels, and biosynthesis of exclusive hydroperoxides. In addition, the genomes of other plant pathogens also code for putative MnLOX. Crystals of the 13S-FeLOX of Fusarium graminearum revealed an unusual altered geometry of the Fe ligands between mono- and dimeric structures, influenced by a wrapping sequence extension near the C-terminal of the dimers. In plants, the enzymes involved in jasmonate synthesis are well documented whereas the fungal pathway is yet to be fully elucidated. Conversion of deuterium-labeled 18:3n-3, 18:2n-6, and their 13S-hydroperoxides to jasmonates established 13S-FeLOX of F. oxysporum in the biosynthesis, while subsequent enzymes lacked sequence homologues in plants. The Rice-blast (M. oryzae) and the Take-all (G. graminis) fungi secrete MnLOX to support infection, invasive hyphal growth, and cell membrane oxidation, contributing to their devastating impact on world production of rice and wheat.

Novel benzoxanthene lignans that favorably modulate lipid mediator biosynthesis: A promising pharmacological strategy for anti-inflammatory therapy

Lipid mediators (LM) encompass pro-inflammatory prostaglandins (PG) and leukotrienes (LT) but also specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPM) which display pivotal bioactivities in health and disease. Pharmacological intervention with inflammatory disorders such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis commonly employs anti-inflammatory drugs that can suppress PG and LT formation, which however, possess limited effectiveness and side effects. Here, we report on the discovery and characterization of the two novel benzoxanthene lignans 1 and 2 that modulate select LM biosynthetic enzymes enabling the switch from pro-inflammatory LT to SPM biosynthesis as potential pharmacological strategy to intervene with inflammation. In cell-free assays, compound 1 and 2 inhibit microsomal prostaglandin E₂ synthase-1 and leukotriene C₄ synthase (IC₅₀ ∼ 0.6-3.4 µM) and potently interfere with 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), the key enzyme in LT biosynthesis (IC₅₀ = 0.04 and 0.09 µM). In human neutrophils, monocytes and M1 and M2 macrophages, compound 1 and 2 efficiently suppress LT biosynthesis (IC₅₀ < 1 µM), accompanied by elevation of 15-LOX-derived LM including SPM. In zymosan-induced murine peritonitis, compound 1 and 2 ameliorated self-limited inflammation along with suppression of early LT formation and elevation of subsequent SPM biosynthesis in vivo. Together, these novel benzoxanthene lignans promote the LM class switch from pro-inflammatory towards pro-resolving LM to terminate inflammation, suggesting their suitability as novel leads for pharmacotherapy of arthritis and related inflammatory disorders.

LeadOp+R: Structure-Based Lead Optimization With Synthetic Accessibility

We previously described a structure-based fragment hopping for lead optimization using a pre-docked fragment database, “LeadOp,” that conceptually replaced “bad” fragments of a ligand with “good” fragments while leaving the core of the ligand intact thus improving the compound's activity. LeadOp was proven to optimize the query molecules and systematically developed improved analogs for each of our example systems. However, even with the fragment-based design from common building blocks, it is still a challenge for synthesis. In this work, “LeadOp+R” was developed based on 198 classical chemical reactions to consider the synthetic accessibility while optimizing leads. LeadOp+R first allows user to identify a preserved space defined by the volume occupied by a fragment of the query molecule to be preserved. Then LeadOp+R searches for building blocks with the same preserved space as initial reactants and grows molecules toward the preferred receptor-ligand interactions according to reaction rules from reaction database in LeadOp+R. Multiple conformers of each intermediate product were considered and evaluated at each step. The conformer with the best group efficiency score would be selected as the initial conformer of the next building block until the program finished optimization for all selected receptor-ligand interactions. The LeadOp+R method was tested with two biomolecular systems: Tie-2 kinase and human 5-lipoxygenase. The LeadOp+R methodology was able to optimize the query molecules and systematically developed improved analogs for each of our example systems. The suggested synthetic routes for compounds proposed by LeadOp+R were the same as the published synthetic routes devised by the synthetic/organic chemists.

Development of smart cell-free and cell-based assay systems for investigation of leukotriene C4 synthase activity and evaluation of inhibitors

Cysteinyl leukotrienes (cys-LTs) cause bronchoconstriction in anaphylaxis and asthma. They are formed by 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) from arachidonic acid (AA) yielding the unstable leukotriene A₄ (LTA₄) that is subsequently conjugated with glutathione (GSH) by LTC₄ synthase (LTC₄S). Cys-LT receptor antagonists and LTC₄S inhibitors have been developed, but only the former have reached the market. High structural homology to related enzymes and lack of convenient test systems due to instability of added LTA₄ have hampered the development of LTC₄S inhibitors. We present smart cell-free and cell-based assay systems based on in situ-generated LTA₄ that allow studying LTC₄S activity and investigating LTC₄S inhibitors. Co-incubations of microsomes from HEK293 cells expressing LTC₄S with isolated 5-LOX efficiently converted exogenous AA to LTC₄ (~1.3μg/200μg protein). Stimulation of HEK293 cells co-expressing 5-LOX and LTC₄S with Ca²⁺-ionophore A23187 and 20μM AA resulted in strong LTC₄ formation (~250ng/10⁶ cells). MK-886, a well-known 5-LOX activating protein (FLAP) inhibitor that also acts on LTC₄S, consistently inhibited LTC₄ formation in all assay types (IC₅₀=3.1-3.5μM) and we successfully confirmed TK04a as potent LTC₄S inhibitor in these assay systems (IC₅₀=17 and 300nM, respectively). We demonstrated transcellular LTC₄ biosynthesis between neutrophils or 5-LOX-expressing HEK293 cells that produce LTA₄ from AA and HEK293 cells expressing LTC₄S that transform LTA₄ to LTC₄. In conclusion, our assay approaches are advantageous as the substrate LTA₄ is generated in situ and are suitable for studying enzymatic functionality of LTC₄S including site-directed mutations and evaluation of LTC₄S inhibitors.

5-Lipoxygenase, a key enzyme for leukotriene biosynthesis in health and disease

5-Lipoxygenase (5-LOX) catalyzes two steps in the biosynthesis of leukotrienes (LTs), lipid mediators of inflammation derived from arachidonic acid. In this review we focus on 5-LOX biochemistry including 5-LOX interacting proteins and regulation of enzyme activity. LTs function in normal host defense, and have roles in many disease states where acute or chronic inflammation is part of the pathophysiology, as briefly summarized at the end of this chapter. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Oxygenated metabolism of PUFA: analysis and biological relevance".

Multi-dimensional target profiling of N,4-diaryl-1,3-thiazole-2-amines as potent inhibitors of eicosanoid metabolism

Eicosanoids like leukotrienes and prostaglandins play a considerable role in inflammation. Produced within the arachidonic acid (AA) cascade, these lipid mediators are involved in the pathogenesis of pain as well as acute and chronic inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and asthma. With regard to the lipid cross-talk within the AA pathway, a promising approach for an effective anti-inflammatory therapy is the development of inhibitors targeting more than one enzyme of this cascade. Within this study, thirty N-4-diaryl-1,3-thiazole-2-amine based compounds with different substitution patterns were synthesized and tested in various cell-based assays to investigate their activity and selectivity profile concerning five key enzymes involved in eicosanoid metabolism (5-, 12-, 15-lipoxygenase (LO), cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 (COX-1/-2)). With compound 7, 2-(4-phenyl)thiazol-2-ylamino)phenol (ST-1355), a multi-target ligand targeting all tested enzymes is presented, whereas compound 9, 2-(4-(4-chlorophenyl)thiazol-2-ylamino)phenol (ST-1705), represents a potent and selective 5-LO and COX-2 inhibitor with an IC50 value of 0.9 ± 0.2 μM (5-LO) and a residual activity of 9.1 ± 1.1% at 10 μM (COX-2 product formation). The promising characteristics and the additional non-cytotoxic profile of both compounds reveal new lead structures for the treatment of eicosanoid-mediated diseases.

A mutation interfering with 5-lipoxygenase domain interaction leads to increased enzyme activity

5-Lipoxygenase (5-LOX) catalyzes two steps in conversion of arachidonic acid to proinflammatory leukotrienes. Lipoxygenases, including human 5-LOX, consist of an N-terminal C2-like β-sandwich and a catalytic domain. We expressed the 5-LOX domains separately, these were found to interact in the yeast two-hybrid system. The 5-LOX structure suggested association between Arg(101) in the β-sandwich and Asp(166) in the catalytic domain, due to electrostatic interaction as well as hydrogen bonds. Indeed, mutagenic replacements of these residues led to loss of two-hybrid interaction. Interestingly, when Arg(101) was mutated to Asp in intact 5-LOX, enzyme activity was increased. Thus, higher initial velocity of the reaction (vinit) and increased final amount of products were monitored for 5-LOX-R101D, at several different assay conditions. In the 5-LOX crystal structure, helix α2 and adjacent loops (including Asp(166)) of the 5-LOX catalytic domain has been proposed to form a flexible lid controlling access to the active site, and lid movement would be determined by bonding of lid residues to the C2-like β-sandwich. The more efficient catalysis following disruption of the R101-D166 ionic association supports the concept of such a flexible lid in human 5-LOX.

Molecular pharmacological profile of a novel thiazolinone-based direct and selective 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The potency of many 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) inhibitors depends on the cellular peroxide tone and the mechanism of 5-LOX enzyme activation. Therefore, new inhibitors that act regardless of the mode of enzyme activation need to be developed. Recently, we identified a novel class of thiazolinone-based compounds as potent 5-LOX inhibitors. Here, we present the molecular pharmacological profile of (Z)-5-(4-methoxybenzylidene)-2-(p-tolyl)-5H-thiazol-4-one, compound C06.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Inhibition of 5-LOX product formation was determined in intact cells [polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL), rat basophilic leukaemia-1, RAW264.7] and in cell-free assays [homogenates, 100, 000×g supernatant (S100), partially purified 5-LOX] applying different stimuli for 5-LOX activation. Inhibition of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2) ), 12-LOX, 15-LOX-1 and 15-LOX-2 as well as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were measured in vitro.

KEY RESULTS

C06 induced non-cytotoxic, direct 5-LOX inhibition with IC(50) values about 0.66 µM (intact PMNL, PMNL homogenates) and approximately 0.3 µM (cell-free PMNL S100, partially purified 5-LOX). Action of C06 was independent of the stimulus used for 5-LOX activation and cellular redox tone and was selective for 5-LOX compared with other arachidonic acid binding proteins (PPAR, cPLA(2) , 12-LOX, 15-LOX-1, 15-LOX-2, COX-2). Experimental results suggest an allosteric binding distinct from the active site and the C2-like domain of 5-LOX.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

C06 was identified as a potent selective direct 5-LOX inhibitor exhibiting a novel and unique mode of action, different from other established 5-LOX inhibitors. This thiazolinone may possess potential for intervention with inflammatory and allergic diseases and certain types of cancer.

Computational analysis of R and S isoforms of 12-lipoxygenases: homology modeling and docking studies

The present study is aimed at predicting human 12R-LOX structure by constructing a homology model. Based upon Blast results, rabbit reticulocyte 15-lipoxygenase 1LOX (protein data bank) was considered as a template for homology modeling. The 3D model was generated with Modeler in InsightII and further refined using AMBER. Further to understand the relationship of protein structure with stereo specificity, a comparative analysis of 12R-LOX model was done with that of 12S-LOX homology model to identify differences in the binding site topology and interacting residues. The large insertion of 31-aa seen in 12R-LOX is located beyond the N-terminal barrel and is accommodated on the outside of the protein without disruption of the overall tertiary structure. The 31-aa region includes SH3 domain binding PXXP motif, seven prolines and five arginines. The docking of the substrate, arachidonic acid was also performed. Our results show that the Gly441 and substrate orientation within the active site play an important role in stereo specificity of 12R-LOX.

Homology modeling of 5-lipoxygenase and hints for better inhibitor design

Lipoxygenases (LOXs) are a group of enzymes involved in the oxygenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Among these 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) is the key enzyme leading to the formation of pharmacologically important leukotrienes and lipoxins, the mediators of inflammatory and allergic disorders. In view of close functional similarity to mammalian lipoxygenase, potato 5-LOX is used extensively. In this study, the homology modeling technique has been used to construct the structure of potato 5-LOX. The amino acid sequence identity between the target protein and sequence of template protein 1NO3 (soybean LOX-3) searched from NCBI protein BLAST was 63%. Based on the template structure, the protein model was constructed by using the Homology program in InsightII. The protein model was briefly refined by energy minimization steps and validated using Profile-3D, ERRAT and PROCHECK. The results showed that 99.3% of the amino acids were in allowed regions of Ramachandran plot, suggesting that the model is accurate and its stereochemical quality good. Like all LOXs, 5-LOX also has a two-domain structure, the small N-terminal beta-barrel domain and a larger catalytic domain containing a single atom of non-heme iron coordinating with His525, His530, His716 and Ile864. Asn720 is present in the fifth coordination position of iron. The sixth coordination position faces the open cavity occupied here by the ligands which are docked. Our model of the enzyme is further validated by examining the interactions of earlier reported inhibitors and by energy minimization studies which were carried out using molecular mechanics calculations. Four ligands, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) having IC(50) of 1.5 microM and analogs of benzyl propargyl ethers having IC(50) values of 760 microM, 45 microM, and no inhibition respectively were selected for our docking and energy minimization studies. Our results correlated well with the experimental data reported earlier, which proved the quality of the model. This model generated can be further used for the design and development of more potent 5-LOX inhibitors.

Inhibition of lipoxygenases and cyclooxygenases by linoleyl hydroxamic acid: comparative in vitro studies

In this first comparative in vitro study, linoleyl hydroxamic acid (LHA), a simple and stable derivative of linoleic acid, was tested as an inhibitor of several enzymes involved in arachidonic acid metabolism in mammals. The tested enzymes were human recombinant 5-lipoxygenase (h5-LO), porcine leukocyte 12-LO, rabbit reticulocyte 15-LO, ovine cyclooxygenases 1/2 (COX1/COX2), and human microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1). Potato tuber and soybean lipoxygenases (ptLOX and sLOX, respectively) were studied for comparative purposes. LHA inhibited most of the tested enzymes with the exception of mPGES-1. The LHA inhibitory activity increased as follows: mPGES-1 (no inhibition)<<COX1 = COX2<h5-LO = sLOX = ptLOX<12-LO<<15-LO. The IC(50) values for COX1/COX2, h5-LO, 12-LO, and 15-LO were 60, 7, 0.6, and 0.02 muM, respectively. sLOX was the only tested enzyme that was capable of aerobic oxygenation of LHA, producing 13-hydroperoxy-LHA. The enzyme rapidly inactivated during the reaction. Therefore, LHA could be used as an effective LO/LOX inhibitor without affecting COX1/COX2 and mPGES-1. Possible implications of this observation include treating diseases and pathological states that are caused by (or lead to) hyperproduction of LO-derived metabolites, e.g., inflammation, cardiovascular disorders, cancer, asthma, allergies, psoriasis, and stroke.

Essential structural profile of a dual functional inhibitor against cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX): Molecular docking and 3D-QSAR analyses on DHDMBF analogues

It is recently proposed that compounds with equal capabilities of inhibiting COX and 5-LOX, both are key enzymes involved in the arachidonic acid (AA) cascade, are expected to be safer non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). To dig out helpful information in designing dual functional inhibitors against the two enzymes, homology modeling, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, automated docking, and 3D-QSAR analyses were performed in this study on 21 COX-2/5-LOX dual inhibitors, namely, 7-tert-butyl-2,3-dihydro-3,3-dimethylbenzofuran (DHDMBF) analogues. A 3D-model of 5-LOX was built based on the high-resolution X-ray structure of rabbit reticulocyte 15-lipoxygenase. Molecular docking was then applied to locate the binding orientations and conformations of DHDMBF analogues with COX-2 and 5-LOX, respectively, leading to highly predictive CoMFA models constructed on the basis of the binding conformations with q2 values of 0.782 and 0.634 for COX-2 and 5-LOX, respectively. In addition, CoMFA field distributions were found in good agreement with the structural characteristics of the corresponding binding sites. Both the docking simulations and QSAR analyses suggest that new potent dual inhibitors should share a structural feature with a moderately bulky group at R2 position and a rather negatively charged group around the position of the carbonyl group of DHDMBFs. Therefore, the final 3D-QSAR models and the information of the inhibitor-enzyme interaction should be useful in developing new NSAIDs as anti-inflammation drugs with favorable safety profile.

Structural insights into human 5-lipoxygenase inhibition: combined ligand-based and target-based approach

The human 5-LOX enzyme and its interaction with competitive inhibitors were investigated by means of a combined ligand-based and target-based approach. First, a pharmacophore model was generated for 16 non redox 5-LOX inhibitors with Catalyst (HipHop module). It includes two hydrophobic groups, an aromatic ring, and two hydrogen bond acceptors. The 3D structure of human 5-LOX was then modeled based on the crystal structure of rabbit 15-LOX, and the binding modes of representative ligands were studied by molecular docking. Confrontation of the docking results with the pharmacophore model allowed the weighting of the pharmacophoric features and the integration of structural information. This led to the proposal of an interaction model inside the 5-LOX active site, consisting of four major and two secondary interaction points: on one hand, two hydrophobic groups, an aromatic ring, and a hydrogen bond acceptor, and, on the other hand, an acidic moiety and an additional hydrogen bond acceptor.

Mutation analysis of the human 5-lipoxygenase C-terminus: support for a stabilizing C-terminal loop

Lipoxygenases contain prosthetic iron, in human 5-lipoxygenase (5LO) the C-terminal isoleucine carboxylate constitutes one of five identified ligands. ATP is one of several factors determining 5LO activity. We compared properties of a series of 5LO C-terminal deletion mutants (one to six amino acid residues deleted). All mutants were enzymatically inactive (expected due to loss of iron), but expression yield (in E. coli) and affinity to ATP-agarose was markedly different. Deletion of up to four C-terminal residues was compatible with good expression and retained affinity to the ATP-column, as for wild-type 5LO. However when also the fifth residue was deleted (Asn-669) expression yield decreased and the affinity to ATP was markedly diminished. This was interpreted as a result of deranged structure and stability, due to loss of a hydrogen bond between Asn-669 and His-399. Mutagenesis of these residues supported this conclusion. In the structure of soybean lipoxygenase-1, a C-terminal loop was pointed out as important for correct orientation of the C-terminus. Accordingly, a hydrogen bond appears to stabilize such a C-terminal loop also in 5LO.

Key role of conserved histidines in recombinant mouse beta-carotene 15,15'-monooxygenase-1 activity

Alignment of sequences of vertebrate beta-carotene 15,15'-monooxygenase-1 (BCMO1) and related oxygenases revealed four perfectly conserved histidines and five acidic residues (His172, His237, His308, His514, Asp52, Glu140, Glu314, Glu405, and Glu457 in mouse BCMO1). Because BCMO1 activity is iron-dependent, we propose that these residues participate in iron coordination and therefore are essential for catalytic activity. To test this hypothesis, we produced mutant forms of mouse BCMO1 by replacing the conserved histidines and acidic residues as well as four histidines and one glutamate non-conserved in the overall family with alanines by site-directed mutagenesis. Our in vitro and in vivo data showed that mutation of any of the four conserved histidines and Glu405 caused total loss of activity. However, mutations of non-conserved histidines or any of the other conserved acidic residues produced impaired although enzymatically active proteins, with a decrease in activity mostly due to changes in V(max). The iron bound to protein was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Bound iron was much lower in preparations of inactive mutants than in the wild-type protein. Therefore, the conserved histidines and Glu405 are absolutely required for the catalytic mechanism of BCMO1. Because the mutant proteins are impaired in iron binding, these residues are concluded to coordinate iron required for catalytic activity. These data are discussed in the context of the predicted structure for the related eubacterial apocarotenal oxygenase.

Enantioselective substrate specificity of 15-lipoxygenase 1

15-Lipoxygenases are lipid-peroxidizing enzymes which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases, such as inflammation, atherosclerosis, and osteoporosis. Although the crystal structures for several lipoxygenase isoforms have been solved, there is little information on the substrate alignment at the active site and its impact on the catalytic mechanism. Investigating the oxygenation of specifically designed hydroxy fatty acids, we observed a pronounced enantioselectivity of 15-lipoxygenases for substrates carrying the oxygen moiety in close proximity to the site of hydrogen abstraction [16(R/S)-HETE, 17(R/S)-HETE]. To investigate the mechanistic basis for this unexpected behavior, we applied a strategy involving targeted substrate modification, site-directed mutagenesis, and structural modeling of the enzyme-substrate complex. Taken together, our data suggest that an (S)-hydroxy group in 16-HETE may form a hydrogen bridge between the substrate molecule and Gln548, which contributes to proper alignment of the fatty acid derivative at the active site of the enzyme. This interaction, which was not observed with 16(R)-HETE, 18(R)-HETE, or 18(S)-HETE, appears to be a major reason for the high degree of enantioselectivity during lipoxygenation of 16-HETE.

Expression of manganese lipoxygenase in Pichia pastoris and site-directed mutagenesis of putative metal ligands

Manganese lipoxygenase is secreted by the fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis. We expressed the enzyme in Pichia pastoris, which secreted approximately 30 mg Mn-lipoxygenase/L culture medium in fermentor. The recombinant lipoxygenase was N- and O-glycosylated (80-100 kDa), contained approximately 1 mol Mn/mol protein, and had similar kinetic properties (K(m) approximately 7.1 microM alpha-linolenic acid and V(max) 18 nmol/min/microg) as the native Mn-lipoxygenase. Mn-lipoxygenase could be quantitatively converted, presumably by secreted Pichia proteases, to a smaller protein (approximately 67 kDa) with retention of lipoxygenase activity (K(m) approximately 6.4 microM alpha-linolenic acid and V(max) approximately 12 nmol/min/microg). Putative manganese ligands were investigated by site-directed mutagenesis. The iron ligands of soybean lipoxygenase-1 are two His residues in the sequence HWLNTH, one His residue and a distant Asn residue in the sequence HAAVNFGQ, and the C-terminal Ile residue. The homologous sequences of Mn-lipoxygenase are H274VLFH278 and H462HVMN466QGS, respectively, and the C-terminal amino acid is Val-602. The His274Gln, His278Glu, His462Glu, and the Val-602 deletion mutants of Mn-lipoxygenase were inactive, and had lost >95% of the manganese content. His-463, Asn-466, and Gln-467 did not appear to be critical for Mn-lipoxygenase activity, as His463Gln, Asn466Gln, Asn466Leu, and Gln467Asn mutants metabolized alpha-linolenic acid to 11- and 13-hydroperoxylinolenic acids. We conclude that His-274, His-278, His-462, and Val-602 likely coordinate manganese.

Characterization of calcium and magnesium binding domains of human 5-lipoxygenase

Two calcium binding sites, separated by about 9.3A, present in the loops that connect the beta-sheets of N-terminal domain contain the ligating residues F14, A15, G16, D79, and D18, D19, L76, respectively. Magnesium is found to bind in regions, which are marginally different owing to the disparity in the ionic radii of Ca2+ and Mg2+. The entropy analysis on the loops of 5-lipoxygenase, implementing the wormlike chain model, explains that the N-terminal beta-barrel is well suited to accommodate calcium binding sites. The large buried side chain area of W102 (compared to W13 and W75) and comparatively smaller fraction of side chain exposed to polar atoms corroborate the calcium induced higher affinity to phosphatidylcholine (PC). However, W80 lying in close proximity of the calcium binding sites is expected to have considerable PC affinity but negligible calcium induced effect on PC binding.

Phosphorylation- and stimulus-dependent inhibition of cellular 5-lipoxygenase activity by nonredox-type inhibitors

Nonredox-type 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) inhibitors such as ZM230487 or L-739.010 potently suppress leukotriene biosynthesis at low cellular peroxide tone. Here, we show that inhibition of 5-LO product formation by nonredox-type 5-LO inhibitors in human isolated polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) depends on the activation pathway of 5-LO. Thus, compared with 5-LO product synthesis induced by the Ca2+-mobilizing agent ionophore A23187, cell stress-induced 5-LO product formation involving 5-LO kinase pathways required ~10- to 100-fold higher concentrations of ZM230487 or L-739.010 for comparable 5-LO inhibition. No such differences were observed for the iron ligand-type 5-LO inhibitor BWA4C or the novel-type 5-LO inhibitors hyperforin and 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-boswellic acid. Experiments using purified 5-LO revealed that Ca2+ is no prerequisite for potent enzyme inhibition by ZM230487, and exposure of PMNL to the combination of ionophore and cell stress did not restore potent 5-LO suppression. Intriguingly, a significant difference in the potency of nonredox-type inhibitors (but not of BWA4C) was determined between wild-type 5-LO and the mutant S271A/S663A-5-LO (lacking phosphorylation sites for ERK1/2 and MAPKAPK-2) in HeLa cells. Collectively, our data suggest that compared with Ca2+-mediated 5-LO product formation, enzyme activation involving 5-LO phosphorylation events specifically and strongly alters the susceptibility of 5-LO toward nonredox-type inhibitors in intact cells.

Hyperforin is a dual inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-1 and 5-lipoxygenase

The acylphloroglucinol derivative hyperforin is the major lipophilic constituent in the herb Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort). The aim of the present study was to investigate if hyperforin as well as extracts of H. perforatum can suppresses the activities of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) and cyclooxygenases (COX), key enzymes in the formation of proinflammatory eicosanoids from arachidonic acid (AA). In freshly isolated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes stimulated with Ca(2+) ionophore A23187, hyperforin inhibited 5-LO product formation with IC(50) values of about 1-2 microM, in the absence or presence of exogenous AA (20 microM), respectively, being almost equipotent to the well-documented 5-LO inhibitor zileuton (IC(50) = 0.5-1 microM). Experiments with purified human 5-LO demonstrate that hyperforin is a direct 5-LO inhibitor (IC(50) approximately 90 nM), acting in an uncompetitive fashion. In thrombin- or ionophore-stimulated human platelets, hyperforin suppressed COX-1 product (12(S)-hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid) formation with an IC(50) of 0.3 and 3 microM, respectively, being about 3- to 18-fold more potent than aspirin. At similar concentrations, hyperforin suppressed COX-1 activity in platelets in presence of exogenous AA (20 microM) as well as in cell-free systems. Hyperforin could not interfere with COX-2 product formation and did not significantly inhibit 12- or 15-LO in platelets or leukocytes, respectively. We conclude that hyperforin acts as a dual inhibitor of 5-LO and COX-1 in intact cells as well as on the catalytic activity of the crude enzymes, suggesting therapeutic potential in inflammatory and allergic diseases connected to eicosanoids.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases phosphorylate 5-lipoxygenase and stimulate 5-lipoxygenase product formation in leukocytes

5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) is the key enzyme in the biosynthesis of proinflammatory leukotrienes. Here, we demonstrate that extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) can phosphorylate 5-LO in vitro. Efficient phosphorylation required the presence of unsaturated fatty acids and was abolished when Ser-663 was mutated to alanine. In intact HeLa cells stimulated with arachidonic acid (AA), impaired 5-LO product formation was evident in cells expressing the S663A-5-LO mutant compared with cells expressing wild-type 5-LO. For Mono Mac 6 cells, priming with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) before stimulation with ionophore was required for ERK1/2 activation and efficient 5-LO phosphorylation, in parallel with substantial AA release and 5-LO product formation. Inhibition of PKC by GF109203x or MEK1/2 by U0126 (or PD98059) abolished the 5-LO up-regulation effects of PMA. In contrast, these inhibitors failed to suppress 5-LO product formation induced by stimuli such as AA plus ionophore, which apparently do not involve the ERK1/2 pathway. Based on inhibitor studies, ERKs are also involved in AA-stimulated 5-LO product formation in PMNL, whereas a role for ERKs is not apparent in 5-LO activation induced by ionophore or cell stress. Finally, the data suggest that ERKs and p38 MAPK-regulated MAPKAPKs can act in conjunction to stimulate 5-LO by phosphorylation.

Cloning of the manganese lipoxygenase gene reveals homology with the lipoxygenase gene family

Manganese lipoxygenase was isolated to homogeneity from the take-all fungus, Gaeumannomyces graminis. The C-terminal amino acids and several internal peptides were sequenced, and the information was used to obtain a cDNA probe by RT/PCR. Screening of a genomic library of G. graminis yielded a full-length clone of the Mn-Lipoxygenase gene. cDNA analysis showed that the gene spanned 2.6 kb and contained one intron (133 bp). Northern blot analyses indicated two transcripts (2.7 and 3.1 kb). The deduced amino-acid sequence of the Mn-Lipoxygenase precursor (618 amino acids, 67.7 kDa) could be aligned with mammalian and plant lipoxygenases with 23-28% identity over 350-400 amino-acid residues of the catalytic domains. Lipoxygenases have one water molecule and five amino acids as Fe ligands. These are two histidine residues in the highly conserved 30 amino-acid sequence WLLAK-X15-H-X4-H-X3-E of alpha helix 9, one histidine and usually an asparaine residue in the sequence H-X3-N-X-G of alpha helix 18, and the carboxyl oxygen of the C-terminal isoleucine (or valine) residue. The homologous sequence of alpha helix 9 of Mn-Lipoxygenase [WLLAK-X14-H(294)-X3-H(297)-X3-E] contained two single-amino-acid gaps, but otherwise His294 and His297 aligned with the two His residues, which coordinate iron. Mn-Lipoxygenase [H(478)-X3-N(482)-X-G] could be aligned with the two metal ligands of alpha helix 18, and the C-terminal residue was Val618. We conclude that Mn-Lipoxygenase belongs to the lipoxygenase gene family and that its unique biochemical properties might be related to structural differences in the metal centre and alpha helix 9 of lipoxygenases rather than to the metal ligands.

Molecular cloning and functional characterization of mouse coactosin-like protein

Coactosin was first isolated from Dictyostelium discoideum and, as reported, human coactosin-like protein (CLP) was identified in a yeast two-hybrid screen using 5-lipoxygenase (5LO) as a bait. A mouse CLP (mCLP) cDNA clone was identified among EMBL/GenBank EST sequences. The derived amino acid sequence (142 residues) was 95.1% identical with human CLP. Here, we also show that mCLP interacts with actin and 5LO in the two-hybrid system. High-speed cosedimentation assays and GST-binding assays confirmed these protein interactions. In chemical cross-linking experiments, one molecule of mCLP was covalently linked to either one subunit of actin or one molecule of 5LO. The mCLP-F-actin and mCLP-5LO associations were pH-insensitive and Ca(2+)-independent. However, association with actin was best observed at low salt concentrations, while association with 5LO was favored by salt, indicating different binding characteristics.

EPR investigation of the active site of recombinant human 5-lipoxygenase: inhibition by selenide

Lipoxygenases are a group of non-heme iron dioxygenases which catalyze the formation of lipid hydroperoxides from unsaturated fatty acids. 5-Lipoxygenase (5LO) is of particular interest for formation of leukotrienes and lipoxins, implicated in inflammatory processes. In this study, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was used to investigate the active site iron of purified recombinant human 5-lipoxygenase (5LO), and to explore the action of selenide on 5LO. After oxidation by lipid hydroperoxides, 5LO exhibited axial EPR spectra typified by a signal at g = 6.2. However, removal of the lipid hydroperoxides, their metabolites, and the solvent ethanol from the samples resulted in a shift to more rhombic EPR spectra (g = 5.17 and g = 9.0). Thus, many features of 5LO and soybean lipoxygenase-1 EPR spectra were similar, indicating similar flexible iron ligand arrangements in these lipoxygenases. Selenide (1.5 microM) showed a strong inhibitory effect on the enzyme activity of 5LO. In EPR, selenide abolished the signal at g = 6.2, typical for enzymatically active 5LO. Lipid hydroperoxide added to selenide-treated 5LO could not reinstate the signal at g = 6.2, indicating an irreversible change of the coordination of the active site iron.

5-Lipoxygenase interacts with coactosin-like protein

We have recently identified coactosin-like protein (CLP) in a yeast two-hybrid screen using 5-lipoxygenase (5LO) as a bait. In this report, we demonstrate a direct interaction between 5LO and CLP. 5LO associated with CLP, which was expressed as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein, in a dose-dependent manner. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments using epitope-tagged 5LO and CLP proteins transiently expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells revealed the presence of CLP in 5LO immunoprecipitates. In reciprocal experiments, 5LO was detected in CLP immunoprecipitates. Non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and cross-linking experiments showed that 5LO binds CLP in a 1:1 molar stoichiometry in a Ca(2+)-independent manner. Site-directed mutagenesis suggested an important role for lysine 131 of CLP in mediating 5LO binding. In view of the ability of CLP to bind 5LO and filamentous actin (F-actin), we determined whether CLP could physically link 5LO to actin filaments. However, no F-actin-CLP.5LO ternary complex was observed. In contrast, 5LO appeared to compete with F-actin for the binding of CLP. Moreover, 5LO was found to interfere with actin polymerization. Our results indicate that the 5LO-CLP and CLP-F-actin interactions are mutually exclusive and suggest a modulatory role for 5LO in actin dynamics.

Site-Directed Mutagenesis Studies on a Putative Fifth Iron Ligand of Mouse 8S-Lipoxygenase: Retention of Catalytic Activity on Mutation of Serine-558 to Asparagine, Histidine, or Alanine

The reported crystal structures of plant and animal lipoxygenases (LOX) show that the nonheme iron in the catalytic domain is ligated by three histidines, the C-terminal isoleucine, and in certain structures also by a fifth iron ligand, an asparagine or histidine residue. Mouse 8-LOX and its homologues (e.g., human 15-LOX-2) are unique in having a serine in place of the usual Asn or His in this fifth position. To investigate the importance of the residue in mouse 8-LOX structure-function, the serine-558 was replaced by asparagine, histidine, or alanine using oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. Wild-type mouse 8-LOX and the mutant cDNAs were expressed in HeLa cells infected with vaccinia virus encoding T7 RNA polymerase and their relative lipoxygenase activities assessed by incubation with [14C]arachidonic acid or [14C]linoleic acid followed by HPLC analysis of the products. The Ser558Asn and Ser558His mutants had equivalent or greater activity than wild-type 8-LOX. They also exhibited some 15-LOX activity, indicating that small structural perturbations (in this case to a residue identical in mouse 8-LOX and its 15-LOX-2 homologues) can interchange the positional specificity of these closely related enzymes. Remarkably, the Ser558Ala mutant exhibited significant 8-LOX activity, indicating that this position is not an essential iron ligand in the enzyme. We conclude that mouse 8-LOX is catalytically competent with only four amino acid iron ligands, and that Ser-558 of the wild-type enzyme does not play an essential role in catalysis.

Mutagenesis and modelling of linoleate-binding to pea seed lipoxygenase

We have produced a model to define the linoleate-binding pocket of pea 9/13-lipoxygenase and have validated it by the construction and characterization of eight point mutants. Three of the mutations reduced, to varying degrees, the catalytic centre activity (kcat) of the enzyme with linoleate. In two of the mutants, reductions in turnover were associated with changes in iron-coordination. Multiple sequence alignments of recombinant plant and mammalian lipoxygenases of known positional specificity, and the results from numerous other mutagenesis and modelling studies, have been combined to discuss the possible role of the mutated residues in pea 9/13-lipoxygenase catalysis. A new nomenclature for recombinant plant lipoxygenases based on positional specificity has subsequently been proposed. The null-effect of mutating pea 9/13-lipoxygenase at the equivalent residue to that which controlled dual positional specificity in cucumber 13/9-lipoxygenase, strongly suggests that the mechanisms controlling dual positional specificity in pea 9/13-lipoxygenase and cucumber 13/9-lipoxygenase are different. This was supported from modelling of another isoform of pea lipoxygenase, pea 13/9-lipoxygenase. Dual positional specificity in pea lipoxygenases is more likely to be determined by the degree of penetration of the methyl terminus of linoleate and the volume of the linoleate-binding pocket rather than substrate orientation. A single model for positional specificity, that has proved to be inappropriate for arachidonate-binding to mammalian 5-, 12- and 15-lipoxygenases, would appear to be true also for linoleate-binding to plant 9- and 13-lipoxygenases.

Structural basis for lipoxygenase specificity. Conversion of the human leukocyte 5-lipoxygenase to a 15-lipoxygenating enzyme species by site-directed mutagenesis

Mammalian lipoxygenases constitute a heterogeneous family of lipid-peroxidizing enzymes, and the various isoforms are categorized with respect to their positional specificity of arachidonic acid oxygenation into 5-, 8-, 12-, and 15-lipoxygenases. Structural modeling suggested that the substrate binding pocket of the human 5-lipoxygenase is 20% bigger than that of the reticulocyte-type 15-lipoxygenase; thus, reduction of the active-site volume was suggested to convert a 5-lipoxygenase to a 15-lipoxygenating enzyme species. To test this "space-based" hypothesis of the positional specificity, the volume of the 5-lipoxygenase substrate binding pocket was reduced by introducing space-filling amino acids at critical positions, which have previously been identified as sequence determinants for the positional specificity of other lipoxygenase isoforms. We found that single point mutants of the recombinant human 5-lipoxygenase exhibited a similar specificity as the wild-type enzyme but double, triple, and quadruple mutations led to a gradual alteration of the positional specificity from 5S- via 8S- toward 15S-lipoxygenation. The quadruple mutant F359W/A424I/N425M/A603I exhibited a major 15S-lipoxygenase activity (85-95%), with (8S,5Z,9E,11Z,14Z)-8-hydroperoxyeicosa-5,9 ,11, 14-tetraenoic acid being a minor side product. These data indicate the principle possibility of interconverting 5- and 15-lipoxygenases by site-directed mutagenesis and appear to support the space-based hypothesis of positional specificity.

The N-terminal "beta-barrel" domain of 5-lipoxygenase is essential for nuclear membrane translocation

5-Lipoxygenase is the key enzyme in the formation of leukotrienes, which are potent lipid mediators of asthma pathophysiology. This enzyme translocates to the nuclear envelope in a calcium-dependent manner for leukotriene biosynthesis. Eight green fluorescent protein (GFP)-lipoxygenase constructs, representing the major human and mouse enzymes within this family, were constructed and their cDNAs transfected into human embryonic kidney 293 cells. Of these eight lipoxygenases, only the 5-lipoxygenase was clearly nuclear localized and translocated to the nuclear envelope upon stimulation with the calcium ionophore. The N-terminal "beta -barrel" domain of 5-lipoxygenase, but not the catalytic domain, was necessary and sufficient for nuclear envelope translocation. The GFP-N-terminal 5-lipoxygenase domain translocated faster than GFP-5-lipoxygenase. beta-Barrel/catalytic domain chimeras with 12- and 15-lipoxygenase indicated that only the N-terminal domain of 5-lipoxygenase could carry out this translocation function. Mutations of iron atom binding ligands (His550 or deletion of C-terminal isoleucine) that disrupt nuclear localization do not alter translocation capacity indicating distinct determinants of nuclear localization and translocation. Moreover, data show that GFP-5-lipoxygenase beta-barrel containing constructs can translocate to the nuclear membrane whether cytoplasmic or nuclear localized. Thus, the predicted beta-barrel domain of 5-lipoxygenase may function like the C2 domain within protein kinase C and cytosolic phospholipase A(2) with unique determinants that direct its localization to the nuclear envelope.

The N-terminal domain of 5-lipoxygenase binds calcium and mediates calcium stimulation of enzyme activity

Human 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) is a key enzyme in the conversion of arachidonic acid into leukotrienes and lipoxins, mediators and modulators of inflammation. In this study, we localized a stimulatory Ca(2+)-binding site to the N-terminal region of the enzyme. Thus, in a (45)Ca(2+) overlay assay, the N-terminal 128 amino acids of recombinant human 5-LO (fused to glutathione S-transferase) bound radioactive calcium to about the same extent as intact 5-LO. The glutathione S-transferase fusion protein of the C-terminal part of 5-LO (amino acids 120-673) showed much weaker binding. A model of a putative 5-LO N-terminal domain was calculated based on the structure of rabbit reticulocyte 15-LO. This model resembles beta-sandwich C2 domains of other Ca(2+)-binding proteins. Comparison of our model with the C2 domain of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) suggested a number of amino acids, located in the loops that connect the beta-strands, as potential Ca(2+) ligands. Indeed, mutations particularly in loop 2 (N43A, D44A, and E46A) led to decreased Ca(2+) binding and a requirement for higher Ca(2+) concentrations to stimulate enzyme activity. Our data indicate that an N-terminal beta-sandwich of 5-LO functions as a C2 domain in the calcium regulation of enzyme activity.

5-lipoxygenase is phosphorylated by p38 kinase-dependent MAPKAP kinases

5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) catalyzes the initial steps in the formation of leukotrienes, a group of inflammatory mediators derived from arachidonic acid (AA). Here we describe that activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and in Mono Mac 6 cells leads to activation of downstream kinases, which can subsequently phosphorylate 5-LO in vitro. Different agents activated the 5-LO kinase activities, including stimuli for cellular leukotriene biosynthesis (A23187, thapsigargin, N-formyl-leucyl-phenylalanine), compounds that up-regulate the capacity for leukotriene biosynthesis (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, tumor necrosis factor alpha, granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor), and well known p38 stimuli as sodium arsenite and sorbitol. For all stimuli, 5-LO kinase activation was counteracted by SB203580 (3 microM or less), an inhibitor of p38 kinase. At least two p38-dependent 5-LO kinase activities were found. Based on migration properties in in-gel kinase assays and immunoreactivity, one of these was identified as mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MAPKAP kinase 2). The other appeared to be MAPKAP kinase 3; however, it could not be excluded that also other p38-dependent kinases contributed. When polymorphonuclear leukocytes were incubated with sodium arsenite (strong activator of 5-LO kinases), platelet-activating factor and exogenous AA, there was a 4-fold increase in 5-LO activity as compared with incubations with only platelet-activating factor and AA. This indicates that 5-LO phosphorylation can be one factor determining cellular 5-LO activity.

Mg2+ activates 5-lipoxygenase in vitro: dependency on concentrations of phosphatidylcholine and arachidonic acid

Mg2+ gave dose-dependent activation of 5-lipoxygenase (5LO) in vitro. As for Ca2+, the activation depended on the presence of phosphatidylcholine (PC) vesicles, and the activation response was different at various combinations of arachidonate and PC. Stimulation of 5LO activity was observed with Mg2+ concentrations of 0.1-1 mM, similar to the concentration range of free Mg2+ in mammalian cells. However, to observe a clear increase in 5LO hydrophobicity, a higher concentration of Mg2+ (4 mM) was required, and at this concentration also 5LO activation was optimal. Combinations of Mg2+ with ATP (containing free Mg2+ and MgATP2- complex) gave better activation of 5LO than either agent alone. This effect of Mg2+ (and ATP) could be of interest in relation to basal 5LO activity in cells not subjected to a particular stimulus.

Differential characteristics of human 15-lipoxygenase isozymes and a novel splice variant of 15S-lipoxygenase

The lipoxygenases (LOs) are a family of nonheme iron dioxygenases that catalyse the insertion of molecular oxygen into polyunsaturated fatty acids. Five members of this gene family have been described in man, 5-LO, 12S-LO, 12R-LO, 15-LO and 15S-LO. Using partially purified recombinant 15S-LO enzyme and cells constitutively expressing this protein, we have compared the activity, substrate specificity, kinetic characteristics and regulation of this enzyme to that previously reported for 15-LO. 15S-LO has a threefold higher Km, similar Vmax and increased specificity of oxygenation for arachidonic acid, and a similar Km but decreased Vmax for linoleic acid in comparison to 15-LO. Unlike 15-LO, 15S-LO is not suicide inactivated by the products of fatty acid oxygenation. However, in common with other LOs, 15S-LO activity is regulated through calcium-dependent association of the enzyme with the membrane fraction of cells. In addition, whilst independently cloning the recently described 15S-LO, we identified a splice variant containing an in-frame 87-bp deletion corresponding to amino acids 401-429 inclusive. Modelling of the 15S-LO and subsequent studies with partially purified recombinant protein suggest that the deleted region comprises a complete alpha-helix flanking the active site of the enzyme resulting in decreased specificity of oxygenation and affinity for fatty acid substrates. Alternative splicing of 15S-LO would therefore provide a further level of regulation of fatty acid metabolism. These results demonstrate that there are substantial differences in the enzyme characteristics and regulation of the 15-LO isozymes which may reflect differing roles for the proteins in vivo.

The biology of 5-lipoxygenase: function, structure, and regulatory mechanisms

5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO) catalyzes the two-step conversion of arachidonic acid to leukotriene A4 (LTA4). The first step consists of the oxidation of arachidonic acid to the unstable intermediate 5-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HPETE), and the second step is the dehydration of 5-HPETE to form LTA4. These events are the first committed reactions leading to the synthesis of all leukotrienes and play a critical role in controlling leukotriene production. 5-LO has evolved many complex structural features and regulatory mechanisms to allow it to fulfill this highly specialized role. The biology of 5-LO is reviewed here with an emphasis on enzymatic function, protein and gene structure, essential cofactors, and the many regulatory mechanisms controlling its expression.

Differential localization of 5- and 15-lipoxygenases to the nuclear envelope in RAW macrophages

Leukotriene formation is initiated in myeloid cells by an increase in intracellular calcium and translocation of 5-lipoxygenase from the cytoplasm to the nuclear envelope where it can utilize arachidonic acid. Monocyte- macrophages and eosinophils also express 15-lipoxygenase, which converts arachidonic acid to 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid. Enhanced green fluorescent 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) and 15-lipoxygenase (15-LO) fusion proteins were expressed in the cytoplasm of RAW 264.7 macrophages. Only 5-lipoxygenase translocated to the nuclear envelope after cell stimulation, suggesting that differential subcellular compartmentalization can regulate the generation of leukotrienes versus 15(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid in cells that possess both lipoxygenases. A series of truncation mutants of 5-LO were created to identify putative targeting domains; none of these mutants localized to the nuclear envelope. The lack of targeting of 15-LO was then exploited to search for specific targeting motifs in 5-LO, by creating 5-LO/15-LO chimeric molecules. The only chimera that could sustain nuclear envelope translocation was one which involved replacement of the N-terminal 237 amino acids with the corresponding segment of 15-LO. Significantly, no discrete targeting domain could be identified in 5-LO, suggesting that sequences throughout the molecule are required for nuclear envelope localization.

5-lipoxygenase binds calcium

5-Lipoxygenase (5LO) catalyzes the first two steps in the biosynthesis of leukotrienes and lipoxins and has therefore become an important target for pharmacological treatment of inflammatory disorders. Binding of calcium to 5LO was shown using several different approaches. Human recombinant enzyme was expressed in E. coli and purified. Association of Ca2+ to 5LO was demonstrated by a calcium-induced mobility shift in gel electrophoresis, by calcium overlay, by gel filtration in the presence of calcium, and by equilibrium dialysis. The two latter methods also showed that calcium binds reversibly to 5LO. Equilibrium dialysis gave a Kd close to 6 microM; the stoichiometry of maximum calcium binding seemed to average around two Ca2+ per 5LO. Similar results were obtained when 5LO was inactivated during equilibrium dialysis, indicating that the calcium binding site(s) is (are) different from the active site. By Triton X-114 partitioning, it was confirmed that calcium increases the hydrophobicity of 5LO.

Determinants of 5-lipoxygenase nuclear localization using green fluorescent protein/5-lipoxygenase fusion proteins

5-Lipoxygenase catalyzes the first two steps in the biosynthesis of leukotrienes, potent extracellular mediators of inflammation and allergic disorders. The unanticipated observation of 5-lipoxygenase in the nucleus of some cell types including bone marrow-derived mast cells (Chen, X. S., Naumann, T. A., Kurre, U., Jenkins, N. A., Copeland, N. G., and Funk, C. D. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 17993-17999) has raised speculation about intranuclear actions of leukotrienes or the enzyme itself. To explore the entry of 5-lipoxygenase into the nucleus we have transfected various cell types with expression vectors encoding native 5-lipoxygenase and green fluorescent protein/5-lipoxygenase (GFP-5LO) fusion proteins. 5-Lipoxygenase and green fluorescent protein/5-lipoxygenase co-localized with the nuclear DNA stain Hoechst 33258 in each cell type. The three main basic regions of 5-lipoxygenase were incapable of acting as "classical" nuclear localization signal sequences. Mutations that abolished enzyme activity/non-heme iron resulted in proteins that would no longer enter the nucleus. An NH2-terminal 5-lipoxygenase fragment of 80 residues was sufficient for directing nuclear localization of green fluorescent protein but not cytosolic pyruvate kinase. The combined data suggest that 5-lipoxygenase enters the nucleus not by a classical nuclear localization signal but by a non-conventional signal located in the predicted beta-barrel domain that may be masked by structural alterations.

Pharmacogenetics of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway in asthma

It is now well appreciated that asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways; among the inflammatory cells that have been implicated in the asthmatic lesion are eosinophils and mast cells. Although these cells have the capacity to produce a number of distinct chemical mediators, the cysteinyl leukotrienes have recently been identified as important mediators of the asthmatic response. The leukotrienes are derived from arachidonic acid released from membrane phospholipids by the action of phospholipases. The archidonic acid so released in the presence of the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) activating protein becomes a substrate for the enzyme 5-LO. This enzyme catalyses the stereo-specific addition of molecular oxygen to arachidonic acid to form the product known as leukotriene A4. Leukotriene A4 subsequently becomes a substrate for one of two enzymes, leukotriene A4 epoxide hydrolase or LTC4 synthase. The former catalyses the formation of LTB4 while the later catalyses the formation of the cysteinyl leukotrienes. Thus the enzyme 5-LO is critically posed to serve as a regulator of leukotriene synthesis. 5-LO action is known to be regulated at a number of levels; the mechanisms include regulation of action of the mature protein and regulation of 5-LO gene transcription and translation; there is good reason to believe that all forms of 5-LO regulation are highly interdependent. In this regard we describe the presence and functional consequences of a series of naturally occurring mutations in 5-LO core promoter. These mutations modify gene transcription in vitro, and may have functional consequences in vivo.

The iron ligand sphere geometry of mammalian 15-lipoxygenases

We investigated the geometry of the iron ligand sphere of the native rabbit 15-lipoxygenase (15-LOX) by X-ray absorption spectroscopy using synchrotron radiation. The soybean LOX-1 was used as a reference compound because its iron ligand sphere is well characterized. For structural information the X-ray absorption spectra were evaluated using the Excurve Program (CCLRC Daresbury Laboratory, Warrington, U.K.). From the positions of the absorption edges and from the intensities of the 1s-3d pre-edge transition peaks a six-coordinate ferrous iron was concluded for the rabbit 15-LOX. Evaluation of the extended region of the absorption spectra suggested six nitrogen and/or oxygen atoms as direct iron ligands, and the following binding distances were determined (means+/-S.D.; estimated accuracy is +/-0.001nm for bond distances, on the basis of more than 22 X-ray absorption spectra): 0.213+/-0.001nm, 0.213+/-0. 001 nm, 0.236+/-0.001 nm, 0.293+/-0.001 nm, 0.189+/-0.001 nm and 0. 242+/-0.001. Lyophilization of the LOX altered the binding distances but did not destroy the octahedral iron ligand sphere. For construction of a structural model of the iron ligand sphere the binding distances extracted from the X-ray spectra were assigned to specific amino acids (His-360, -365, -540, -544 and the C-terminal Ile-662) by molecular modelling using the crystal coordinates of the soybean LOX-1 and of a rabbit 15-LOX-inhibitor complex.

Effects of 1-chloro-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene on 5-lipoxygenase activity and cellular leukotriene synthesis

5-Lipoxygenase (EC 1.13.11.34) is the key enzyme in the regulation of leukotriene synthesis. Here, the effects of various substituted nitrobenzene compounds on 5-lipoxygenase activity and the formation of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) were studied in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL), B lymphocytes, and human whole blood. 1-Chloro-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TNCB) was found to inhibit calcium ionophore A23187-induced leukotriene synthesis in PMNL in a biphasic manner. Thus, 1.0 microM TNCB caused 50% inhibition of LTB4 formation, but only 16% inhibition was found at 10 times higher concentration. In contrast, this higher concentration of TNCB activated the synthesis of LTB4 when PMNL were stimulated with arachidonic acid alone, demonstrating that TNCB can exert both stimulatory and inhibitory effects on leukotriene synthesis depending on the experimental conditions. The inhibitory effect of 1.0 microM TNCB on ionophore A23187-induced leukotriene synthesis could be circumvented by addition of exogenous arachidonic acid. At high concentrations of TNCB (25-100 microM), the drug blocked ionophore A23187-induced leukotriene synthesis. TNCB also inhibited LTB4 formation in B lymphocytes, as well as in human whole blood. The activity of recombinant 5-lipoxygenase was inhibited by TNCB, and reduced glutathione or beta-mercaptoethanol counteracted this inhibition. This suggests that TNCB might inhibit 5-lipoxygenase by alkylating thiol groups. TNCB possessed a high specificity for 5-lipoxygenase with only modest inhibitory effects on 12-lipoxygenase (EC 1.13.11.31), 15-lipoxygenase (EC 1.13.11.12), and phospholipase A2 (EC 3.1.1.4) activities. Taken together, these results show that TNCB can both specifically inhibit and stimulate leukotriene formation and might be useful in further studies on the regulation of 5-lipoxygenase.

Crystal structure of soybean lipoxygenase L-1 at 1.4 A resolution

Lipoxygenases, which are widely distributed among plant and animal species, are Fe-containing dioxygenases that act on lipids containing (Z,Z)-pentadiene moieties in the synthesis of compounds with a variety of functions. Utilizing an improved strategy of data collection, low temperature, and synchrotron radiation of short wavelength, the structure of ferrous soybean lipoxygenase L-1, a single chain protein of 839 amino acid residues, has been determined by X-ray crystallography to a resolution of 1.4 A. The R-factor for the refined model is 19.7%. General features of the protein structure were found to be consistent with the results of prior crystallographic studies at lower (2.6 A) resolution. In contrast to the prior studies, the binding of a water molecule to the active site Fe was established. The octahedral coordination sphere of the Fe also includes the side chains of His499, His504, His690, and Asn694 as well as the terminal carboxylate of Ile839, which binds as a monodentate ligand. Asn694 is involved in a number of labile polar interactions with other protein groups, including an amide-aromatic hydrogen bond, and appears to be a weak ligand. Several possible access routes for dioxygen and fatty acids to the internal active site and substrate binding cavity are described. The protein structure restricts access to the Fe site such that the formation of an organo-Fe intermediate seems improbable. Structural restrictions pertinent to other proposed reaction intermediates, such as planar pentadienyl and nonplanar allyl radicals, are also discussed.

DIOXYGENASES: Molecular Structure and Role in Plant Metabolism

▪ Abstract  Dioxygenases are nonheme iron-containing enzymes important in the biosynthesis of plant signaling compounds such as abscisic acid, gibberellins, and ethylene and also of secondary metabolites, notably flavonoids and alkaloids. Plant dioxygenases fall into two classes: lipoxygenases and 2-oxoacid-dependent dioxygenases. The latter catalyze hydroxylation, epoxidation, and desaturation reactions; some enzymes catalyze more than one type of reaction in successive steps in a biosynthetic pathway. This review highlights recent discoveries on both enzyme groups, particularly in relation to gibberellin biosynthesis, in vivo activity of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase, and molecular structure/function relationships. Similarities between the roles of monooxygenases and dioxygenases are also discussed.