The cyclooxygenase isoforms: structural insights into the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins

Despite the marked differences in their physiological roles, the structures and catalytic functions of the cyclooxygenase isozymes COX-1 and -2 are vi rtually identical. Nevertheless, a handful of amino acid substitutions give rise to subtle differences in ligand binding between the two isoforms. The se 'small' alterations of isozyme structure are sufficient to allow the des ign of new, isoform-selective drugs. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig hts reserved.