Enzymatic Peroxidation Catalysed by Lipoxygenases

Lipoxygenases catalyse the regio-specific and stereoselective oxygenation of unsaturated fatty acids. The mammalian enzymes have been detected in human platelets, lung, kidney, testes and white blood cells. The leukotrienes, derived from the enzymatic action of the enzyme on arachidonic acid, have effects on neutrophil migration and aggregation, release of lysosomal enzymes, capillary permeability, induction of pain and smooth muscle contraction (Salmon, 1986). 

However, deuteration at carbons 9, 10, 12 and 13 did change the spectrum to one consisting of only a nitrogen triplet, indicating that the radical trapped had a deuterium attached to the carbon centre. This would imply that the carbon-centred radical lies at one of these four positions. 

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