Lipoxygenases: potential starting biocatalysts for the synthesis of signaling compounds

Lipoxygenases (LOXs) have attracted a great deal of attention as potential starting biocatalysts for synthesizing signaling compounds. Significant advances during the past decade include the discovery of regiospecific LOXs and structural investigation for their diverse regiospecificity. Eight regiospecific (5-, 8-, 9-, 10-, 11-, 12-, 13-, and 15-) LOXs catalyze positional-specific dioxygenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, forming positional-specific hydroperoxy fatty acids that are further metabolized into signaling compounds. The LOX-derived signaling compounds can be applied not only for clinical uses but also for industrial uses. For example, animal lipoxin LXA4, plant jasmonic acids, plant green leaf volatiles, and bacterial lactones have been used as anti-inflammatory agents, anti-pest agents, flavors, and food additives, respectively. Prostaglandins, as controllers of hormone regulation and cell growth, are also suggested as LOX-derived compounds in corals.