Description | 5(S)-Hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid is a lipid hydroperoxide precursor of leukotrienes. The first step of biosynthesis of leukotrienes is conversion of arachidonic acid into 5(S)-hydroperoxy-6,8,11,14-(E,Z,Z,Z)-eicosatetraenoic acid [5(S)-HpETE] by 5- lipoxygenases (5-LOX). Lipid hydroperoxides undergo homolytic decomposition into bifunctional electrophiles, which react with DNA bases to form DNA adducts. These DNA modifications are proposed to be involved in the etiology of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegeneration.
5-LOX, the enzyme responsible for the formation of 5(S)-HpETE in vivo, is expressed primarily in leukocytes, including monocytes and macrophages. Studies have implicated the 5-LOX pathway as an important mediator in the pathology of atherosclerosis. (PMID: 15777099)
Endogenously generated 5-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid is the preferred substrate for human leukocyte leukotriene A4 synthase activity. Thus, the arachidonic acid moiety is preferentially converted to LTA4 in a concerted reaction without dissociation of a 5-HPETE intermediate. (PMID: 3036580) |