Detection of Unprecedented CYP74 Enzyme in Mammal: Hydroperoxide Lyase CYP74C44 of the Bat .

The genome of the neotropical fruit bat was recently sequenced, revealing an unexpected gene encoding a plant-like protein, CYP74C44, which shares ca. 90% sequence identity with the putative CYP74C of . The preparation and properties of the recombinant CYP74C44 are described in the present work. The CYP74C44 enzyme was found to be active against the 13- and 9-hydroperoxides of linoleic and α-linolenic acids (13-HPOD, 13-HPOT, 9-HPOD, and 9-HPOT, respectively), as well as the 15-hydroperoxide of eicosapentaenoic acid (15-HPEPE). All substrates studied were specifically transformed into chain cleavage products that are typical for hydroperoxide lyases (HPLs). The HPL chain cleavage reaction was validated by the identification of NaBH-reduced products (Me/TMS) of 15-HPEPE and 13- and 9-hydroperoxides as (all-)-14-hydroxy-5,8,11-tetradecatrienoic, (9)-12-hydroxy-9-dodecenoic, and 9-hydroxynonanoic acids (Me/TMS), respectively. Thus, CYP74C44 possessed the HPL activity that is typical for the CYP74C subfamily proteins.