Conversions of prostaglandin endoperoxides by prostacyclin synthase from pig aorta

Partially purified prostacyclin synthase from pig aorta converted the prostaglandin (PG) endoperoxide PGH2 to prostacyclin (PGI2), and PGH1 to 12-hydroxy-8,10-heptadecadienoic acid (HHD). Both reactions were inhibited by 15-hydroperoxy-5,8,11,13-eicosatetraenoic acid (15-HP) in a dose-dependent rashion. However, the reactions PGH2 leads to PGI2 and PGH1 leads to HHD appeared to differ: substrate availability was rate limiting in the latter reaction, while the enzyme became rapidly saturated witth PGH2 and a steady rate of prostacyclin formation was observed at higher substrate levels.