Styrene oxidation to styrene oxide coupled with arachidonic acid oxidation by soybean lipoxygenase

Styrene was co-oxidated to styrene oxide during soybean lipoxygenase catalyzed formation of arachidonic acid lipid peroxides. Styrene oxidation showed linear dependence on the amount of enzyme and on arachidonic acid concentration, and saturation kinetics with styrene concentration. Styrene oxide formation was dependent on the lipid substrate used and was inhibited by antioxidants. Lipid peroxides appear to be able to support styrene oxidation when produced from rat liver microsomes.