High efficiency capillary column-gas chromatography mass spectrometry: analysis of the lipoxygenase pathway in eukaryot cells.

Lipoxygenases are ubiquitous enzymes able to oxygenate polyunsaturated fatty acids. This metabolic pathway leads to hydroperoxides, hydroxyepoxyene compounds and leukotrienes. Using high performance gas chromatography prior to mass spectrometry, we studied the activity of the lipoxygenases from mouse peritoneal macrophages. Further studies on mechanism of biosynthesis of hydroxyepoxyene compounds were successfully carried out using 18O2 labelled precursors.