Lipoxygenase Gene Families in Plants and Animals

摘要

Lipoxygenases are multigene and multi functional proteins invovled in the oxygenation of either bound or free polyunsaturated fatty acids and generate corresponding hydroperoxy derivatives. These hydroperoxy derivatives, in turn form precursors for the biologically active molecules like jasmonic acid and traumatin in plants and leukotrienes and lipoxins in animals. While regulating various physiological processes, these bioactive lipids mediate defense responses in plants and are responsible for the pathophysiology of acute inflammatory to chronic progressive disorders in animals. Based on the position of incorporation of molecular oxygenation on the substrate fatty acids, they are classified as 9- and 13- LOXs in plants and 5-, 8-,12-, and 15- LOXs in animals. The review presents a comparative account on lipoxygenase gene families in plants and animals.