| description: |
Oxygenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids with molecular oxygen by lipoxygenases (LOX) is used as the first step in the biosynthesis of chemical messengers as leukotrienes and lipoxins in animals, and jasmonic acid derivatives in plants. To further elucidate the biological role of LOX enzymes elaboration of efficient methods for preparation of enantiomerically pure oxygenation products, i.e. hydroperoxy and hydroxy fatty acids is of great importance. The main results of the applicant’s previous grant project were discovery of 11R-LOX, a novel lipoxygenase with unique positional specificity, cloning of the corresponding gene from the coral Gersemia fruticosa, expression and characterization of the recombinant protein. The main goals of the current proposal are elucidation of mechanisms controlling oxygenation specificity and Ca2+-dependent membrane binding of 11R-LOX as well as improvement of catalytic properties of the recombinant enzyme by means of mutations of the residues involved. |