LIPOXYGENASE AS A VERSATILE BIOCATALYST

This review of lipoxygenase and lipoxygenase pathway enzymes focuses o n the potential for the efficient production of useful compounds. Alth ough the existence of lipoxygenase has been known for many years, only recently has there been progress toward understanding the conditions required to improve yields and immobilize its activity. Maintaining a high O-2 tension is necessary to obtain good yields of hydroperoxides; whereas, partial anaerobic conditions can lead to hy droperoxide deco mposition. Fatty hydroperoxides, obtained from lipoxygenase action, ca n serve as precursors for further transformation by either enzymes or chemical reactions. Well over one-hundred products from lipoxygenase-g enerated hydroperoxides of linoleic acid alone have been described. Ex amples will be given of the formation of fatty acids with epoxide, hyd roxy, ketone, cyclic, and multiple functional groups. The cleavage of fatty hydroperoxides into short-chain aldehydes and alcohols also will be described. Many of the products have biological activity, suggesti ng a significant physiological function for lipoxygenase.