Identification of a lipoxygenase inhibitor in A431 cells as a phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase.

An endogenous lipoxygenase inhibitor, purified from the cytosol of human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells, was analyzed by N-terminal microsequencing and mass spectrometric analysis. The inhibitor was purified by SDS-PAGE, then subjected to in-gel CNBr cleavage and trypsin digestion. The N-terminal sequence data obtained from a 6-8 kDa band of in-gel CNBr cleavage and the three isolated peptides of in-gel trypsin digestion, and the C-terminal peptide sequence from matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry matched the sequence of human phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase. The purified inhibitor exhibited peroxidase activity using phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxides as the substrate. We therefore concluded that the lipoxygenase inhibitor present in A431 cells was a phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase.