Murine 12(R)-lipoxygenase: functional expression, genomic structure and chromosomal localization

A cDNA, recently cloned (by Krieg et al, (1998)) from mouse skin, was shown to encode a 12(R)-lipoxygenase. When expressed in HEK cells, the recombina nt protein converted methyl arachidonate into the corresponding 12-HETE est er which was shown to be the R-enantiomer by chiral phase chromatography. N either arachidonic acid nor linoleic acid sere substrates for the recombina nt protein. The structure of the 12(R)-lipoxygenase gene is unique among al l animal lipoxygenases in that it is divided into 15 exons and 14 introns s panning approximately 12.5 kh. By interspecific backcross analysis, the 12( R)-lipoxygenase gene was localized to the central region of mouse chromosom e 11, (C) 1999 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.