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Physcomitrella patens has lipoxygenases for both eicosanoid and octadecanoid pathways
Aldwin Anterola1, Cornelia Göbel, Ellen Hornung
1Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901-6509, USA. anterola@siu.edu
Phytochemistry
|January 10, 2009
Summary
Mosses utilize both C18 and C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids for lipoxygenase activity. This study identified specific moss lipoxygenases acting on alpha-linolenic and arachidonic acids, revealing distinct oxylipin pathways.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Enzymology
Background:
- Mosses accumulate long-chain C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) alongside typical C18 PUFAs found in flowering plants.
- Lipoxygenases (LOX) are enzymes that oxygenate fatty acids, initiating oxylipin pathways, but their specific substrates in mosses are not well-defined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the specific fatty acid substrates utilized by lipoxygenase enzymes in the moss Physcomitrella patens.
- To characterize the enzymatic activity and product profiles of moss lipoxygenases.
Main Methods:
- Heterologous expression of eight Physcomitrella patens lipoxygenase genes in Escherichia coli.
- In vitro enzyme assays using linoleic, alpha-linolenic, and arachidonic acids as substrates.
- Analysis of lipoxygenase activity using Clark-type oxygen electrode and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).
Main Results:
- Seven of the eight expressed moss lipoxygenases exhibited enzymatic activity.
- Two lipoxygenases selectively acted on arachidonic acid (C20), producing (12S)-hydroperoxy eicosatetraenoic acid.
- Five lipoxygenases preferred alpha-linolenic acid (C18), yielding (13S)-hydroperoxy octadecatrienoic acid.
Conclusions:
- Physcomitrella patens possesses lipoxygenases capable of processing both C18 and C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
- The findings suggest the existence of distinct C18 and C20 based oxylipin pathways in mosses.
- This study provides insights into the diversity of fatty acid metabolism in non-vascular plants.
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