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.