Feedback activation of ferrous 5-lipoxygenase during leukotriene synthesis by coexisting linoleic acid

Ferrous lipoxygenases seem to be activated through a feedback control mechanism via FA hydroperoxides generated from PUFAs by partially existing ferric lipoxygenases. However, during leukotriene synthesis, feedback activation of ferrous 5-lipoxygenase in the presence of arachidonic acid (AA) was not observed. In the present study, we examined the feedback activation of ferrous 5-lipoxygenase in the 5-lipoxygenase/AA system in the presence of linoleic aicd (LA), which is a predominant component of membrane phospholipids. When potato 5-lipoxygenase was incubated with AA and LA in the presence of nitroxyl radical, 3-carbamoyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-3-pyrroline-N-oxyl (CmDeltaP), one-electron redox cycle reaction between ferric and ferrous 5-lipoxygenase was detected. For each revolution of the cycle, one molecule of PUFA and one molecule of its hydroperoxide were converted into PUFA-allyl radical-CmDeltaP adduct ([PUFA-H].-CmDeltaP) and PUFA-epoxyallyl radical-CmDeltaP adduct ([PUFA-H+O].-CmDeltaP), respectively. The ratios, [AA-H].-CmDeltaP/[LA-H].-CmDeltaP and [AA-H+O].-CmDeltaP/[LA-H+O].-CmDeltaP, were estimated to be 1.7 and 0.13, respectively. These facts indicate that ferrous 5-lipoxygenase is activated through feedback control in the presence of LA, and that resulting ferric 5-lipoxygenase catalyzes the stoichiometric synthesis of leukotrienes from AA. In conclusion, the biosynthesis of leukotrienes is remarkably efficient.