Peroxidatic oxidation of benzo[a]pyrene and prostaglandin biosynthesis.

The arachidonic acid dependent oxidation of benzo[a]pyrene to a mixture of 3,6-, 1,6-, and 6,12-quinones has been studied by using enzyme preparations from sheep seminal vesicles. Maximal oxidation is observed at 100 microM benzo[a]pyrene and 150 microM arachidonic acid. The arachidonic acid dependent oxidation is peroxidatic and utilizes prostaglandin G2 (PGG2), generated in situ from arachidonate, as the hydroperoxide substrate. 15-Hydroperoxy-5,8,11,13-eicosatetraenoic acid is equivalent to PGG2 as a hydroperoxide substrate, but hydrogen peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide, and tert-butyl hydroperoxide are much poorer substrates. Arachidonic acid dependent benzo[a]pyrene oxidation by microsomal and solubilized enzyme preparations is markedly.