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M Hamberg

Publications and source records attributed to M Hamberg.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Dissociative recombination of protonated methanol.

The branching ratios of the different reaction pathways and the overall rate coefficients of the dissociative recombination reactions of CH3OH2+ and CD3OD2+ have been measured at the CRYRING storage ring located in Stockholm, Sweden. Analysis of the data yielded the result that formation of methanol or deuterated methanol accounted for only 3 and 6% of the total rate in CH3OH2+ and CD3OD2+, respectively. Dissociative recombination of both isotopomeres mainly involves fragmentation of the C-O bond, the major process being the three-body break-up forming CH3, OH and H (CD3, OD and D). The overall cross sections are best fitted by sigma = 1.2 +/- 0.1 x 10(-15) E(-1.15 +/- 0.02) cm2 and sigma = 9.6 +/- 0.9 x 10(-16) E(-1.20 +/- 0.02) cm2 for CH3OH2+ and CD3OD2+, respectively. From these values thermal reaction rate coefficients of k(T) = 8.9 +/- 0.9 x 10(-7) (T/300)(-0.59 +/- 0.02) cm3 s(-1) (CH3OH2+) and k(T) = 9.1 +/- 0.9 x 10(-7) (T/300)(-0.63 +/- 0.02) cm3 s(-1) (CD3OD2+) can be calculated. A non-negligible formation of interstellar methanol by the previously proposed mechanism via radiative association of CH3+ and H2O and subsequent dissociative recombination of the resulting CH3OH2+ ion to yield methanol and hydrogen atoms is therefore very unlikely.

Journal Article↗

Separation of divinyl ether fatty acid isomers by micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

A micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) method has been developed for the direct resolution of divinyl ether type of hydrophobic fatty acid isomers. The fatty acid isomers resolved include colneleic acid (CL), colnelenic acid (CLn), 14(Z)-etheroleic acid (14(Z)-EL), 14(Z)-etherolenic acid (14(Z)-Eln), 11(Z)-etheroleic acid (11(Z)-EL), 11(Z)-etherolenic acid (11(Z)-Eln), etheroleic acid (EL) and etherolenic acid (Eln). These fatty acid isomers differ in number, position and spatial arrangement of the double bonds and the position of the ether oxygen. A central composite design was employed for the optimization of the key variables of the separation, namely the concentrations of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and organic modifiers. The use of micelles combined with an organic modifier in the background electrolyte made it possible to dissolve and separate relatively hydrophobic fatty acid isomers, and to achieve high separation efficiency. Using heptakis-(2,3-dimethyl-6-sulfato)-beta-cyclodextrin (HDMS-beta-CD) as a buffer additive, complete separation of the examined eight divinyl ethers was achieved. Separation efficiencies up to 5 x 10(5) theoretical plates/m were achieved under optimized conditions. Direct UV was applied for detection of the fatty acids. The results were compared with those obtained from high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation.

Buffers↗

The lipoxygenase pathway in tulip (Tulipa gesneriana): detection of the ketol route.

The in vitro metabolism of [1-(14)C]linoleate, [1-(14)C]linolenate and their 9(S)-hydroperoxides was studied in cell-free preparations from tulip (Tulipa gesneriana) bulbs, leaves and flowers. Linoleate and its 9-hydroperoxide were converted by bulb and leaf preparations into three ketols: (12Z)-9-hydroxy-10-oxo-12-octadecadienoic acid (alpha-ketol), (11E)-10-oxo-13-hydroxy-11-octadecadienoic acid (gamma-ketol) and a novel compound, (12Z)-10-oxo-11-hydroxy-12-octadecadienoic acid (10,11-ketol), in the approximate molar proportions of 10:3:1. The corresponding 15, 16-dehydro alpha- and gamma-ketols were the main metabolites of [1-(14)C]linolenate and its 9-hydroperoxide. Thus bulbs and leaves possessed 9-lipoxygenase and allene oxide synthase activities. Incubations with flower preparations gave alpha-ketol hydro(pero)xides as predominant metabolites. Bulb and leaf preparations possessed a novel enzyme activity, gamma-ketol reductase, which reduces gamma-ketol to 10-oxo-13-hydroxyoctadecanoic acid (dihydro-gamma-ketol) in the presence of NADH. Exogenous linolenate 13(S)-hydroperoxide was converted mostly into chiral (9S,13S)-12-oxo-10-phytodienoate (99.5% optical purity) by bulb preparations, while [1-(14)C]linolenate was a precursor for ketols only. Thus tulip bulbs possess abundant allene oxide cyclase activity, the substrate for which is linolenate 13(S)-hydroperoxide, even though 13(S)-lipoxygenase products were not detectable in the bulbs. The majority of the cyclase activity was found in the microsomes (10(5) g pellet). Cyclase activity was not found in the other tissues examined, but only in the bulbs. The ketol route of the lipoxygenase pathway, mediated by 9-lipoxygenase and allene oxide synthase activities, has not been detected previously in the vegetative organs of any plant species.

Carbon Radioisotopes↗

Oxylipin profiling reveals the preferential stimulation of the 9-lipoxygenase pathway in elicitor-treated potato cells.

Lipoxygenases are key enzymes in the synthesis of oxylipins and play an important role in the response of plants to wounding and pathogen attack. In cultured potato cells treated with elicitor from Phytophthora infestans, the causal agent of late blight disease, transcripts encoding a linoleate 9-lipoxygenase and a linoleate 13-lipoxygenase accumulate. However, lipoxygenase activity assays and oxylipin profiling revealed only increased 9-lipoxygenase activity and formation of products derived therefrom, such as 9-hydroxy octadecadienoic acid and colneleic acid. Furthermore, the 9-lipoxygenase products 9(S),10(S),11(R)-trihydroxy-12(Z)-octadecenoic and 9(S),10(S),11(R)-trihydroxy-12(Z),15(Z)-octadecadienoic acid were identified as novel, elicitor-inducible oxylipins in potato, suggesting a role of these compounds in the defense response against pathogen attack. Neither 13-lipoxygenase activity nor 13-lipoxygenase products were detected in higher amounts in potato cells after elicitation. Thus, formation of products by the 9-lipoxygenase pathway, including the enzymes hydroperoxide reductase, divinyl ether synthase, and epoxy alcohol synthase, is preferentially stimulated in cultured potato cells in response to treatment with P. infestans elicitor. Moreover, elicitor-induced accumulation of desaturase transcripts and increased phospholipase A(2) activity after elicitor treatment suggest that substrates for the lipoxygenase pathway might be provided by de novo synthesis and subsequent release from lipids of the endomembrane system.

Cells, Cultured↗

Molecular cloning of allene oxide cyclase. The enzyme establishing the stereochemistry of octadecanoids and jasmonates.

Allene oxide cyclase (EC ) catalyzes the stereospecific cyclization of an unstable allene oxide to (9S,13S)-12-oxo-(10,15Z)-phytodienoic acid, the ultimate precursor of jasmonic acid. This dimeric enzyme has previously been purified, and two almost identical N-terminal peptides were found, suggesting allene oxide cyclase to be a homodimeric protein. Furthermore, the native protein was N-terminally processed. Using degenerate primers, a polymerase chain reaction fragment could be generated from tomato, which was further used to isolate a full-length cDNA clone of 1 kilobase pair coding for a protein of 245 amino acids with a molecular mass of 26 kDa. Whereas expression of the whole coding region failed to detect allene oxide cyclase activity, a 5'-truncated protein showed high activity, suggesting that additional amino acids impair the enzymatic function. Steric analysis of the 12-oxophytodienoic acid formed by the recombinant enzyme revealed exclusive (>99%) formation of the 9S,13S enantiomer. Exclusive formation of this enantiomer was also found in wounded tomato leaves. Southern analysis and genetic mapping revealed the existence of a single gene for allene oxide cyclase located on chromosome 2 of tomato. Inspection of the N terminus revealed the presence of a chloroplastic transit peptide, and the location of allene oxide cyclase protein in that compartment could be shown by immunohistochemical methods. Concomitant with the jasmonate levels, the accumulation of allene oxide cyclase mRNA was transiently induced after wounding of tomato leaves.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Formation of cyclopentenones from all-(E) hydroperoxides of linoleic acid via allene oxides. New insight into the mechanism of cyclization.

Conversions of (Z,E)- and (E,E)-isomers of linoleic acid 13- and 9-hydroperoxides with flax and maize allene oxide synthase were studied. All-(E) but not (Z,E) hydroperoxides readily undergo cyclization via allene oxides into trans-cyclopentenones. These results suggest that double bond geometry dramatically affects the formation of pericyclic pentadienyl cation intermediate and thus the capability of 18:2-allene oxides to undergo electrocyclization into cyclopentenones.

Cyclopentanes↗

Evidence for the mitochondrial biosynthesis of 3R-hydroxy-5Z,8Z,11Z,1 4Z-eicosatetraenoic acid in the yeast Dipodascopsis uninucleata.

The biosynthesis of 3R-hydroxy-5Z, 8Z, 11Z,14Z-eicosatetraenoic acid (3R-HETE) from arachidonic acid (20:4n-6) by the hyphal-forming yeast, Dipodascopsis uninucleata, in cell-free enzyme extracts required CoASH, ATP, NAD+ and Mg2+; 3R-HETE was present as the CoA derivative in enzyme extracts and its biosynthesis was associated with mitochondria. Its synthesis was high from arachidonoyl-CoA (15% conversion of the substrate; 22 nmol mg protein(-1) x h), but significantly higher from trans-2-arachidonoyl-CoA (53 nmol mg protein(-1) x min). Aspirin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase synthase (cyclooxygenase), did not significantly inhibit 3R-HETE biosynthesis in enzyme extracts, as opposed to antimycin A (46% inhibition). The chirality of 3-HETE was 95% R and 5% S. 3R-HETE has the same chirality as the products of peroxisomal enoyl-CoA hydratases of Neurospora crassa and Saccharomyces cerevisiae; the difference appears to be that in D. uninucleata the Renantiomers are synthesized in mitochondria. Exogenously supplied eicosapentaenoic acid was converted to 3-hydroxy 5Z,11Z,14Z,17Z-eicosapentaenoic acid by cell-free enzyme extracts though there was no requirement for a 5Z,8Z-diene structure for the biosynthesis of 3-hydroxylated fatty acids as 3-hydroxy-8Z,11Z,14Z, and 3-hydroxy-11Z,14Z,17Z-eicosatrienoic acids were synthesized from the corresponding fatty acids. We found no evidence for the synthesis of the prostaglandins F2alpha and E2.

Culture Media↗

New cyclopentenone fatty acids formed from linoleic and linolenic acids in potato.

[1-14C]Linoleic acid was incubated with a whole homogenate preparation from potato stolons. The reaction product contained four major labeled compounds, i.e., the alpha-ketol 9-hydroxy-10-oxo-12(Z)-octadecenoic acid (59%), the epoxy alcohol 10(S),11(S)-epoxy-9(S)-hydroxy-12(Z)-octadecenoic acid (19%), the divinyl ether colneleic acid (3%), and a new cyclopentenone (13%). The structure of the last-mentioned compound was determined by chemical and spectral methods to be 2-oxo-5-pentyl-3-cyclopentene-1-octanoic acid (trivial name, 10-oxo-11-phytoenoic acid). Steric analysis demonstrated that the relative configuration of the two side chains attached to the five-membered ring was cis, and that the compound was a racemate comprising equal parts of the 9(R),13(R) and 9(S),13(S) enantiomers. Experiments in which specific trapping products of the two intermediates 9(S)-hydroperoxy-10(E),12(Z)-octadecadienoic acid and 9(S),10-epoxy-10,12(Z)-octadecadienoic acid were isolated and characterized demonstrated the presence of 9-lipoxygenase and allene oxide synthase activities in the tissue preparation used. The allene oxide generated from linoleic acid by action of these enzymes was further converted into the cyclopentenone and alpha-ketol products by cyclization and hydrolysis, respectively. Incubation of [1-14C]linolenic acid with the preparation of potato stolons afforded 2-oxo-5-[2'(Z)-pentenyl]-3-cyclopentene-1-octanoic acid (trivial name, 10-oxo-11,15(Z)-phytodienoic acid), i.e., an isomer of the jasmonate precursor 12-oxo-10,15(Z)-phytodienoic acid. Quantitative determination of 10-oxo-11-phytoenoic acid in linoleic acid-supplied homogenates of different parts of the potato plant showed high levels in roots and stolons, lower levels in developing tubers, and no detectable levels in leaves.

Carbon Radioisotopes↗

Lipoxygenase pathway in tulip: biosynthesis of ketols.

The metabolism in vitro of [1-(14)C]linoleate, [1-(14)C]linolenate and their 9(S)-hydroperoxides in tulip (Tulipa gesneriana) was found to be under the control of 9-lipoxygenase and allene oxide synthase, and directed towards alpha-ketol, gamma-ketol and the novel compound (12Z)-10-oxo-11-hydroxy-12-octadecadienoic acid (10,11-ketol). Potent activity of allene oxide cyclase (in bulbs) and a new enzyme, gamma-ketol reductase (in bulbs and leaves), was detected. Metabolism in flowers is directed predominantly towards alpha-ketol hydroperoxide.

Carbon Radioisotopes↗

alpha-oxidation of fatty acids in higher plants. Identification of a pathogen-inducible oxygenase (piox) as an alpha-dioxygenase and biosynthesis of 2-hydroperoxylinolenic acid.

A pathogen-inducible oxygenase in tobacco leaves and a homologous enzyme from Arabidopsis were recently characterized (Sanz, A., Moreno, J. I., and Castresana, C. (1998) Plant Cell 10, 1523-1537). Linolenic acid incubated at 23 degrees C with preparations containing the recombinant enzymes underwent alpha-oxidation with the formation of a chain-shortened aldehyde, i.e., 8(Z),11(Z), 14(Z)-heptadecatrienal (83%), an alpha-hydroxy acid, 2(R)-hydroxy-9(Z),12(Z),15(Z)-octadecatrienoic acid (15%), and a chain-shortened fatty acid, 8(Z),11(Z),14(Z)-heptadecatrienoic acid (2%). When incubations were performed at 0 degrees C, 2(R)-hydroperoxy-9(Z),12(Z),15(Z)-octadecatrienoic acid was obtained as the main product. An intermediary role of 2(R)-hydroperoxy-9(Z), 12(Z),15(Z)-octadecatrienoic acid in alpha-oxidation was demonstrated by re-incubation experiments, in which the hydroperoxide was converted into the same alpha-oxidation products as those formed from linolenic acid. 2(R)-Hydroperoxy-9(Z),12(Z), 15(Z)-octadecatrienoic acid was chemically unstable and had a half-life time in buffer of about 30 min at 23 degrees C. Extracts of cells expressing the recombinant oxygenases accelerated breakdown of the hydroperoxide (half-life time, about 3 min at 23 degrees C), however, this was not attributable to the recombinant enzymes since the same rate of hydroperoxide degradation was observed in the presence of control cells not expressing the enzymes. No significant discrimination between enantiomers was observed in the degradation of 2(R,S)-hydroperoxy-9(Z)-octadecenoic acid in the presence of recombinant oxygenases. A previously studied system for alpha-oxidation in cucumber was re-examined using the newly developed techniques and was found to catalyze the same conversions as those observed with the recombinant enzymes, i.e. enzymatic alpha-dioxygenation of fatty acids into 2(R)-hydroperoxides and a first order, non-stereoselective degradation of hydroperoxides into alpha-oxidation products. It was concluded that the recombinant enzymes from tobacco and Arabidopsis were both alpha-dioxygenases, and that members of this new class of enzymes catalyze the first step of alpha-oxidation in plant tissue.

Aldehydes↗

Highly efficient separation of isomeric epoxy fatty acids by micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) method has been developed for simple and direct separation of cis- and trans-12,13-epoxy-9(Z)-octadecenoic acid and 9,10-epoxy-12(Z)-octadecenoic acid isomers. Separation was performed in micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) using a buffer consisting of 25 mM borate (pH 9.20), 10 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 10% v/v acetonitrile. The key variables, concentrations of SDS and organic modifier, were optimized by the application of a factorial experimental design. The use of a low micellar concentration, just above critical micelle concentration (CMC), in a background electrolyte containing an organic modifier not only made it possible to dissolve and separate highly hydrophobic fatty acid isomers, but also resulted in improved separation efficiency and selectivity. Separation efficiency up to 4 x 10(5) theoretical plates/m was achieved under an optimized condition. Also investigated were the influence of temperature on separation and the effect of organic modifier concentration on the dynamic exchange of the analytes between micelles and the bulk of the buffer solution. Direct UV was applied for detection of the fatty acids.

Chromatography, Micellar Electrokinetic Capillary↗

On the specificity of allene oxide cyclase.

Jasmonic acid is a carbocyclic fatty acid that is biosynthesized from alpha-linolenic acid in several steps. The formation of the ring structure of jasmonic acid is catalyzed by the enzyme allene oxide cyclase (EC 5.3.99.6) and involves the cyclization of an unstable allene oxide into the cyclopentenone 12-oxo-10,15(Z)-phytodienoic acid. In this study, a number of allene oxides were generated, and their enzymatic and nonenzymatic cyclization into cyclopentenones was investigated. Nonenzymatic cyclization was observed with allene oxides having one pair of conjugated double bonds and an additional isolated double bond in the beta,gamma position relative to the epoxide group, i.e., the partial structure 4,5-epoxy-1,3,7-octatriene. Enzymatic cyclization took place provided that this structural element was inserted in the fatty acid chain with its epoxide group in the n-6,7 position and the isolated double bond in the n-3 position. A number of oxygenated fatty acids having structural features in common with the natural allene oxides were tested as inhibitors of allene oxide cyclase. Fatty acids having an allene oxide structure in the n-6,7 position but lacking the double bond in the n-3 position, as well as fatty acids having a saturated epoxide group in the n-6,7 position, served as competitive inhibitors of the enzyme. Data on the substrate specificity of allene oxide synthase (EC 4.2.1.92) from corn seeds indicated that fatty acid hydroperoxides with a double bond at n-3 and with the hydroperoxide function at n-6 exhibit the highest affinity but the slowest reaction velocity.

Animals↗

An epoxy alcohol synthase pathway in higher plants: biosynthesis of antifungal trihydroxy oxylipins in leaves of potato.

[1-14C]Linoleic acid was incubated with a whole homogenate preparation of potato leaves (Solanum tuberosum L., var. Bintje). The methyl-esterified product was subjected to straight-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and was found to contain four major radioactive oxidation products, i.e., the epoxy alcohols methyl 10(S),11(S)-epoxy-9(S)-hydroxy-12(Z)-octadecenoate (14% of the recovered radioactivity) and methyl 12(R), 13(S)-epoxy-9(S)-hydroxy-10(E)-octadecenoate (14%), and the trihydroxy derivatives methyl 9(S),10(S),11(R)-trihydroxy-12(Z)-octadecenoate (18%)and methyl 9(S), 12(S),13(S)-trihydroxy-10(E)-octadecenoate (30%). The structures and stereochemical configurations of these oxylipins were determined by chemical and spectral methods using the authentic compounds as references. Incubations performed in the presence of glutathione peroxidase revealed that lipoxygenase activity of potato leaves generated the 9- and 13-hydroperoxides of linoleic acid in a ratio of 95:5. Separate incubations of these hydroperoxides showed that linoleic acid 9(S)-hydroperoxide was metabolized into epoxy alcohols by particle-bound epoxy alcohol synthase activity, whereas the 13-hydroperoxide was metabolized into alpha- and gamma-ketols by a particle-bound allene oxide synthase. It was concluded that the main pathway of linoleic acid metabolism in potato leaves involved 9-lipoxygenase-catalyzed oxygenation into linoleic acid 9(S)-hydroperoxide followed by rapid conversion of this hydroperoxide into epoxy alcohols and a slower, epoxide hydrolase-catalyzed conversion of the epoxy alcohols into trihydroxy-octadecenoates. Trihydroxy derivatives of linoleic and linolenic acids have previously been reported to be growth-inhibitory to plant-pathogenic fungi, and a role of the new pathway of linoleic acid oxidation in defense reactions against pathogens is conceivable.

Antifungal Agents↗

Quantitative determination of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in human urine by isotope dilution mass spectrometry: normal levels in hemochromatosis.

A previously developed method for quantitative determination of 8-hydroxyguanine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was modified to allow measurement of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in human urine. [4,5,6,8-(13)C4]8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine was prepared by enzymatic coupling of [4,5,6,8-(13)C4]8-hydroxyguanine to deoxyribose-1-phosphate. Samples of human urine (2 ml) were spiked with the labeled nucleoside (13 nmol) and subjected to solid phase extraction and reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. The 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine thus isolated was hydrolyzed by treatment with aqueous formic acid, and the resulting 8-hydroxyguanine was converted into its tetrakis-trimethylsilyl derivative and subjected to gas-liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis. Repeated determinations of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in pools of urine showed coefficients of variation of 5 and 8% at concentrations of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine equal to 18 and 2 nM, respectively. Determination of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in samples of urine spiked with different amounts of the unlabeled nucleoside showed a mean recovery of 102%. Application of the analytical method to a group of 11 apparently healthy subjects (mean age, 47 years) showed a mean level of endogenously produced 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine equal to 1.33 +/- 0.29 micromol/mol creatinine. The level recorded for another group of 15 younger subjects (mean age, 28 years) was somewhat higher, that is, 1.58 +/- 0.84 micromol/mol creatinine, corresponding to a 24-h production rate of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine equal to 20.6 +/- 11.6 nmol (288 +/- 140 pmol/24 h x kg body weight). Hemochromatosis is a hereditary disease characterized by increased absorption of iron from the gastrointestinal tract and deposition of iron in organs. Application of the analytical method to a group of 12 patients with hereditary hemochromatosis who were under treatment with venesections showed a mean level of urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine equal to 1.39 +/- 0.40 micromol/mol creatinine. This value was not significantly different from those of healthy subjects. The fact that these patients had only slight or moderate iron overload at the time of urinary sample collection may have influenced the urinary levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in the present study.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗

Manganese lipoxygenase. Discovery of a bis-allylic hydroperoxide as product and intermediate in a lipoxygenase reaction.

Linoleic acid was incubated with manganese lipoxygenase (Mn-LO) from the fungus Gäumannomyces graminis. The product consisted of (13R)-hydroperoxy-(9Z,11E)-octadecadienoic acid ((13R)-HPOD) and a new hydroperoxide, (11S)-hydroperoxy-(9Z,12Z)-octadecadienoic acid ((11S)-HPOD). Incubation of (11R)-[2H]- and (11S)-[2H]linoleic acids with Mn-LO led to the formation of hydroperoxides that largely retained and lost, respectively, the deuterium label. Conversion of the (11S)-deuteriolinoleic acid was accompanied by a primary isotope effect, which manifested itself in a strongly reduced rate of formation of hydroperoxides and in a time-dependent accumulation of deuterium in the unconverted substrate. These experiments indicated that the initial step catalyzed by Mn-LO consisted of abstraction of the pro-S hydrogen of linoleic acid to produce a linoleoyl radical. (11S)-HPOD was converted into (13R)-HPOD upon incubation with Mn-LO. The mechanism of this enzyme-catalyzed hydroperoxide rearrangement was studied in experiments carried out with 18O2 gas or 18O2-labeled hydroperoxides. Incubation of [11-18O2](11S)-HPOD with Mn-LO led to the formation of (13R)-HPOD, which retained 39-44% of the 18O label, whereas (11S)-HPOD incubated with Mn-LO under 18O2 produced (13R)-HPOD, which had incorporated 57% of 18O. Furthermore, analysis of the isotope content of (11S)-HPOD remaining unconverted in such incubations demonstrated that [11-18O2](11S)-HPOD suffered a time-dependent loss of 18O when exposed to Mn-LO, whereas (11S)-HPOD incorporated 18O when incubated with Mn-LO under 18O2. On the basis of these experiments, it was proposed that the conversion of (11S)-HPOD into (13R)-HPOD occurred in a non-concerted way by deoxygenation into a linoleoyl radical. Subsequent reoxygenation of this intermediate by dioxygen attack at C-13 produced (13R)-HPOD, whereas attack at C-11 regenerated (11S)-HPOD. The hydroperoxide rearrangement occurred by oxygen rebound, although, as demonstrated by the 18O experiments, the oxygen molecule released from (11S)-HPOD exchanged with surrounding molecular oxygen prior to its reincorporation.

Ascomycota↗

Stereochemistry of oxygenation of linoleic acid catalyzed by prostaglandin-endoperoxide H synthase-2.

Linoleic acid was incubated with prostaglandin-endoperoxide H synthase-2 (PGHS-2) from ovine placenta. A product consisting of regio- and stereoisomeric hydroxyoctadecadienoic (HOD) acids was obtained. Analysis by straight-phase high-performance liquid chromatography followed by chiral-phase high-performance liquid chromatography demonstrated that linoleic acid was preferentially oxygenated at C-9 to produce the following mixture of HODs: 9(R)-HOD (52%), 9(S)-HOD (11%), 13(R)-HOD (2%), and 13(S)-HOD (35%). As a comparison, linoleic acid was incubated with microsomal prostaglandin-endoperoxide H synthase-1 (PGHS-1) from ovine vesicular gland. This resulted in a product having the following composition: 9(R)-HOD (73%), 9(S)-HOD (9%), 13(R)-HOD (1%), and 13(S)-HOD (17%). The stereochemistry of the hydrogen which was removed from C-11 during the conversion of linoleic acid into hydroxy acids in the presence of PGHS-1 or PGHS-2 was determined by incubation of [(11R)-2H]- and [(11S)-2H]linoleic acids followed by mass spectrometric analysis of the isotope contents of the individual hydroxy acid isomers. Both enzymes were found to catalyze oxygenations which involved stereospecific removal of the (11S) hydrogen and retention of the (11R) hydrogen. The major hydroxy acids, i.e., 9(R)-HOD and 13(S)-HOD, were formed from linoleic acid in reactions which involved antarafacial hydrogen abstraction and oxygen insertion. It is concluded that the initial steps of the PGHS-2- and PGHS-1-catalyzed oxygenations proceed with identical stereochemistry and involve stereospecific removal of the pro-S hydrogen from the omega 8-methylene group of the substrate.

Animals↗

Isolation and structure of a new galactolipid from oat seeds.

Seeds of oat (Avena sativa L.) were recently shown to contain significant quantities of a new hydroxy acid, (15 R)-hydroxy-(9Z),(12Z)-octadecadienoic acid (trivial name, avenoleic acid). In the present work, avenoleate was found to be mainly (63%) localized in the glycolipid fraction of oat seed lipids. Fractionation of the glycolipids by thin-layer chromatography and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography revealed the presence of a main molecular species which accounted for 20% of the total avenoleate content of oat seeds. Structural studies by chemical methods and mass spectrometry demonstrated that the avenoleate-containing glycolipid was a galactolipid assembled of one molecule of avenoleic acid, two molecules of linoleic acid, two molecules of D-galactose, and one molecule of glycerol. Degradation of the new galactolipid by chemical and enzymatic methods demonstrated the localization of acyl chains, i.e., linoleate at sn-1 and linoleoylavenoleate at sn-2. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy gave independent support for this structure and also demonstrated that the two galactoses formed an alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-1-6-beta-D-galactopyranosyl moiety which was bound to the sn-3 position. Based on these experiments, the new galactolipid could be formulated as 1-[(9'Z),(12'Z)-octadecadienoyl]-2-[(15''R)-[(9'''Z),(12'''Z)-o ctadecadienoyloxy]-(9''Z),(12''Z)-octadecadienoyl]-3-(alpha-D-g alactopyranosyl-1-6-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-glycerol. Quantitatively, the amount of the avenoleate-containing galactolipid was of the same order of magnitude as those of individual molecular species of digalactosyldiacylglycerol containing nonoxygenated acyl chains. The content of the new galactolipid in oat seeds was 0.5-0.6 mg per g of seed.

Avena↗