On the reaction of wheat lipoxygenase with arachidonic acid and its oxygenated derivatives.

Lipoxygenase was purified from wheat kernels by means of ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel chromatography on Sephadex G-200 and anion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-50. Arachidonic acid was mainly converted by the wheat lipoxygenase to 5D-hydroperoxy-6E,8Z,11Z,14Z-eicosatetraenoic acid (5D8-HPETE) with other HPETE isomers including 8-HPETE being minor products. At higher concentrations of lipoxygenase, multiple oxygenation products such as 5,15-dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5,15-diHETE) and, to a lower extent, 8,15-diHETE and lipoxin isomers were detected after reduction of the hydroperoxy derivatives primarily formed. Similar results were obtained with 5D8- or 15L8-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid as substrate. Moreover, evidence was obtained for leukotriene A4 synthase activity of the wheat lipoxygenase.