Oxygenation of (3Z)-alkenals to 4-hydroxy-(2E)-alkenals in plant extracts:A nonenzymatic process

There is large interest in 4-hydroxy-(2E) -alkenals because of their cytoto xicity in mammals, However, the biosynthetic pathway for these compounds ha s not been elucidated yet. In plants, 4-hydroxy-(2E) -alkenals were suppose d to be derived by the subsequent actions of lipoxygenase and a peroxygenas e on (3Z)-alkenals, The presence of 9-hydroxy-12-oxo-(10E)-dodecenoic acid (9-hydroxy-traumatin) in incubations of 12-oxo-(9Z)-dodecenoic acid (trauma tin) in the absence of lipoxygenase or peroxygenase, has prompted us to rei nvestigate its mode of formation. We show here that in vitro 9-hydroxy-trau matin, I-hydroxy(2E)-hexenal and 4-hydroxy-(2E)-nonenal, are formed in a no nenzymatic process. Furthermore, a novel product derived from traumatin was observed and identified as 11-hydroxy-12-oxo-(9Z)-dodecenoic acid. The res ults obtained here strongly suggest that the 4-hydroxy-(2E)-alkenals, obser ved in crude extracts of plants, are mainly due to autoxidation of (3Z)-hex enal, (3Z)-nonenal and traumatin, This may have implications for the in viv o existence and previously proposed physiological significance of these pro ducts in plants. (C) 2000 Academic Press.