Conversion of linoleic acid hydroperoxide to hydroxy, keto, epoxyhydroxy, and trihydroxy fatty acids by hematin.

We have carried out a study of the reaction of 13-hydroperoxy-9-cis,11-trans-octadecadienoic acid (linoleic acid hydroperoxide) with hematin. The major products are erythro-11-hydroxy-12,13-epoxy-9-octadecenoic acid, threo-11-hydroxy-12,13-epoxy-9-octadecenoic acid, 9,12,13-trihydroxy-10-octadecenoic acid, 13-keto-9,11-octadecadienoic acid, and 13-hydroxy-9,11-octadecadienoic acid. Several minor products have also been identified, including 9-hydroxy-12,13-epoxyoctadecenoic acid, 11-hydroxy-9,10-epoxy-12-octadecenoic acid, 9-hydroxy-10,12-octadecadienoic acid, and 9-keto-10,12-octadecadienoic acid. Oxygen labeling studies indicate that the observed products arise by at least two pathways. In the major pathway, hematin reduces 13-hydroperoxy-9,11-octadecadienoic acid by one electron to an alkoxyl radical that cyclizes to an adjacent double bond to form an epoxy allylic radical. The allylic radical either couples to the hydroxyl radical coordinated to hematin or diffuses from the solvent cage and couples to O2, forming a peroxyl radical. In the minor pathway, the hydroperoxide is oxidized by one electron to a 13-peroxyl radical that undergoes beta-scission to a pentadienyl radical and O2. Exchange of hydroperoxide-derived O2 for dissolved O2 occurs at this stage followed by coupling of O2 to either terminus of the pentadienyl radical. Both pathways of hydroperoxide metabolism generate significant quantities of peroxyl radicals that epoxidize the isolated double bonds of dihydroaromatic molecules. The products of hydroperoxide reaction with hematin and the oxygen labeling patterns are very similar to the products of unsaturated fatty acid hydroperoxide metabolism by platelets, aorta, and lung. Our results not only provide a mechanism for the formation of a series of mammalian metabolites of linoleic and arachidonic acids but also offer an estimate of the yield of peroxyl radicals generated during the process.