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Lipoxygenase genes and their targeted disruption
Colin D Funk1, Xin-Sheng Chen, Eric N Johnson
1Department of Pharmacology, Center for Experimental Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA. colin@spirit.gcrc.upenn.edu
Prostaglandins & Other Lipid Mediators
|November 16, 2002
Summary
Researchers analyzed lipoxygenase (LOX) gene organization in humans and mice, finding similarities in structure but differences in number and chromosomal location. Gene targeting in mice revealed important insights despite normal outward appearances.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Comparative Biology
- Molecular Genetics
Background:
- Lipoxygenases (LOX) are key enzymes in inflammatory pathways.
- Understanding LOX gene family evolution and organization is crucial for biological research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the structure and organization of lipoxygenase genes in human and mouse genomes.
- To highlight unique features of the 5-lipoxygenase gene.
- To introduce the utility of murine lipoxygenase knockout models.
Main Methods:
- Comparative genomic sequence analysis of human and mouse genomes.
- Identification and characterization of lipoxygenase gene family members.
- Review of gene targeting studies in murine models.
Main Results:
- Humans possess six functional LOX genes and three pseudogenes; mice have seven functional genes.
- LOX gene arrangement is conserved, located on human chromosome 17p and mouse chromosome 11.
- The 5-LOX gene exhibits unique chromosomal localization and larger size compared to other LOX genes.
- Murine models with disrupted LOX genes have been generated and studied.
Conclusions:
- The lipoxygenase gene family shows conserved organization across species, with notable exceptions like the 5-LOX gene.
- Murine knockout models provide valuable tools for investigating LOX gene function in vivo.