Hydroperoxy-arachidonic acid mediated n-hexanal and (Z)-3- and (E)-2-nonenal formation in Laminaria angustata

In higher plants, C6 and C9 aldehydes are formed from C18 fatty acids, such as linoleic or linolenic acid, through formation of 13- and 9-hydroperoxides, followed by their stereospecific cleavage by fatty acid hydroperoxide lyases (HPL). Some marine algae can also form C6 and C9 aldehydes, but their precise biosynthetic pathway has not been elucidated fully. In this study, we show that Laminaria angustata, a brown alga, formed C6 and C9 aldehydes enzymatically. The alga forms C9 aldehydes exclusively from the C20 fatty acid, arachidonic acid, while C6 aldehydes are derived either from C18 or from C20 fatty acid. The intermediates in the biosynthetic pathway were trapped by using a glutathione/glutathione peroxidase system, and subjected to structural analyses. Formation of (S)-12-, and (S)-15-hydroperoxy arachidonic acids [12(S)HPETE and 15(S)HPETE] from arachidonic acid was confirmed by chiral HPLC analyses. These account respectively for C9 aldehyde and C6 aldehyde formation, respectively. The HPL that catalyzes formation of C9 aldehydes from 12(S)HPETE seems highly specific for hydroperoxides of C20 fatty acids.     

Molecular cloning and expression of Arabidopsis fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase.

Fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase (HPOL), an enzyme of the octadecanoid pathway that forms carbon-6 aldehydes such as n-hexanal or (Z)-3-hexenal, was cloned from Arabidopsis thaliana as a full-length cDNA. The HPOL activity obtained by expressing the cDNA in Escherichia coli formed n-hexanal from linoleic acid 13-hydroperoxide, whereas linoleic acid 9-hydroperoxide was not a substrate for the enzyme. The HPOL mRNA is expressed at low level in leaves; however, its accumulation can be found in the inflorescence. Wounding or methyl jasmonate treatments increase the mRNA level in leaves. These results indicate that the HPOL gene is up-regulated in leaves in response to wounding and that the enzyme may be an active component of the octadecanoid defense response.     

Identification and functional analyses of two cDNAs that encode fatty acid 9-/13-hydroperoxide lyase (CYP74C) in rice

Fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase (HPL), a member of cytochrome P450 (CYP74), produces aldehydes and oxo-acids involved in plant defensive reactions. In monocots, HPL that cleaves 13-hydroperoxides of fatty acids has been reported, but HPL that cleaves 9-hydroperoxides is still unknown. To find this type of HPL, in silico screening of candidate cDNA clones and subsequent functional analyses of recombinant proteins were performed. We found that AK105964 and AK107161 (Genbank accession numbers), cDNAs previously annotated as allene oxide synthase (AOS) in rice, are distinctively grouped from AOS and 13-HPL. Recombinant proteins of these cDNAs produced in Escherichia. coli cleaved both 9- and 13-hydroperoxide of linoleic and linolenic into aldehydes, while having only a trace level of AOS activity and no divinyl ether synthase activity. Hence we designated AK105964 and AK107161 OsHPL1 and OsHPL2 respectively. They are the first CYP74C family cDNAs to be found in monocots.     

Lipoxygenase-mediated cleavage of fatty acids to carbonyl fragments in tomato fruits

Homogenates of tomato fruits catalysed the enzymic conversion of linoleic and linolenic acids (but not oleic acid) to C₆ aldehydes in low (3–5%) molar yield. Hexanal was formed from linoleic acid; cis-3-hexenal and smaller amounts of trans-2-hexenal were formed from linolenic acid. With the fatty acids as substrates, the major products were fatty acid hydroperoxides (50–80% yield) and the ratio of 9- to 13-hydroperoxides as isolated from an incubation with linoleic acid was at least 95:5 in favour of the 9-hydroperoxide isomer. When the 9- and 13-hydroperoxides of linoleic acid were used as substrates with tomato homogenates, the 13-hydroperoxide was readily cleaved to hexanal in high molar yield (60%) but the 9-hydroperoxide isomer was not converted to cleavage products. Properties of the hydroperoxide cleavage system are described. The results indicate that the C₆ aldehydes are formed from C₁₈ polyunsaturated fatty acids in a sequential enzyme system involving lipoxygenase (which preferentially oxygenates at the 9-position) followed by a hydroperoxide cleavage system which is, however, specific for the 13-hydroperoxy isomers.     

Formation of a new class of oxylipins from N-acyl(ethanol)amines by the lipoxygenase pathway.

N-Acylethanolamines (NAEs) constitute a new class of plant lipids and are thought to play a role in plant defense strategies against pathogens. In plant defense systems, oxylipins generated by the lipoxygenase pathway are important actors. To date, it is not known whether plants also use endogeneous oxylipins derived from NAEs in their defense reactions. We tested whether members of the NAE class can be converted by enzymes constituting this pathway, such as (soybean) lipoxygenase-1, (alfalfa) hydroperoxide lyase and (flax seed) allene oxide synthase. We found that both alpha-N-linolenoylethanolamine and gamma-N-linolenoylethanolamine (18:3), as well as alpha-N-linolenoylamine and gamma-N-linolenoylamine were converted into their (13S)-hydroperoxide derivatives by lipoxygenase. Interestingly, only the hydroperoxides of alpha-N-linolenoyl(ethanol)amines and their linoleic acid analogs (18:2) were suitable substrates for hydroperoxide lyase. Hexanal and (3Z)-hexenal were identified as volatile products of the 18:2 and 18:3 fatty acid (ethanol)amides, respectively. 12-Oxo-N-(9Z)-dodecenoyl(ethanol)amine was the nonvolatile hydrolysis product. Kinetic studies with lipoxygenase and hydroperoxide lyase revealed that the fatty acid ethanolamides were converted as readily or even better than the corresponding free fatty acids. Allene oxide synthase utilized all substrates, but was most active on (13S)-hydroperoxy-alpha-N-linolenoylethanolamine and the (13S)-hydroperoxide of linoleic acid and its ethanolamine derivative. alpha-Ketols and gamma-ketols were characterized as products. In addition, cyclized products, i.e. 12-oxo-N-phytodienoylamines, derived from (13S)-hydroperoxy-alpha-N-linolenoylamines were found. The results presented here show that, in principle, hydroperoxide NAEs can be formed in plants and subsequently converted into novel phytooxylipins.     

Fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase in tomato fruits: cloning and properties of a recombinant enzyme expressed in Escherichia coli

Fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) is a member of a novel subfamily of cytochrome P450 and catalyzes a cleavage reaction of fatty acid hydroperoxides to form short-chain aldehydes and oxo-acids. A cDNA encoding tomato fruit HPL (LeHPL) was obtained. An active LeHPL was expressed in E. coli and purified. It showed highest activity against the 13-hydroperoxide of linolenic acid, followed by that of linoleic acid. 9-Hydroperoxides were poor substrates. The absorption spectrum of the purified LeHPL in the native form was similar to that of most P450s although a CO-adduct having a lambda max at 450 nm could not be obtained. LeHPL activity is reversibly inhibited by nordihydroguaiaretic acid, while salicylic acid irreversibly inhibited it. LeHPL is kinetically inactivated by fatty acid hydroperoxides, especially 9-hydroperoxides. The inactivation is prevented by inhibitors of LeHPL. Thus, HPL catalytic activity is thought to be essential to its inactivation. During the inactivation, an abolition of the Soret band was evident, indicating that inactivation is caused mainly by degradation of the prosthetic heme in LeHPL.     

An Enzymatic Conversion of Lipoxygenase Products by a Hydroperoxide Lyase in Blue-Green Algae (Oscillatoria sp.)

An enzyme has been isolated from blue-green algae Oscillatoria sp. which utilizes the product, 13-hydroperoxy-9, 11-octadecadienoic acid (13-HPOD), of lipoxygenase for its substrate. This enzyme, termed hydroperoxide lyase, converts the conjugated diene 13-hydroperoxide of linoleic acid to 13-oxotrideca-9, 11-dienoic acid. The structure of the latter has been determined by ultraviolet spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. 9-HPOD is not a substrate for this enzyme. The hydroperoxide lyase from Oscillatoria sp. has a maximum of activity at pH 6.4 and 30°C. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated at 56,000. The enzyme was not inhibited by BW 755C, but was inhibited by molecules containing more than one hydroxyl group. Quercetin was found to be the best inhibitor of the enzyme activity. The purified hydroperoxide lyase from Oscillatoria sp. showed an apparent K_m of 7.4 micromolar and a V_max of 35 nanomoles per minute per milligram of protein for 13-HPOD. An enzymatic pathway for the biogenesis of oxodienoic acid from linoleic acid is proposed. This involves the sequential activity of lipoxygenase and hydroperoxide lyase enzymes.     

On the specificity of lipid hydroperoxide fragmentation by fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase from Arabidopsis thaliana

Fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) is a membrane associated P450 enzyme that cleaves fatty acid hydroperoxides into aldehydes and omega-oxo fatty acids. One of the major products of this reaction is (3Z)-hexenal. It is a constituent of many fresh smelling fruit aromas. For its biotechnological production and because of the lack of structural data on the HPL enzyme family, we investigated the mechanistic reasons for the substrate specificity of HPL by using various structural analogues of HPL substrates. To approach this 13-HPL from Arabidopsis thaliana was cloned and expressed in E. coli utilising a His-Tag expression vector. The fusion protein was purified by affinity chromatography from the E. coli membrane fractions and its pH optimum was detected to be pH 7.2. Then, HPL activity against the respective (9S)- and (13S)-hydroperoxides derived either from linoleic, alpha-linolenic or gamma-linolenic acid, respectively, as well as that against the corresponding methyl esters was analysed. Highest enzyme activity was observed with the (13S)-hydroperoxide of alpha-linolenic acid (13alpha-HPOT) followed by that with its methyl ester. Most interestingly, when the hydroperoxy isomers of gamma-linolenic acid were tested as substrates, 9gamma-HPOT and not 13gamma-HPOT was found to be a better substrate of the enzyme. Taken together from these studies on the substrate specificity it is concluded that At13HPL may not recognise the absolute position of the hydroperoxy group within the substrate, but shows highest activities against substrates with a (1Z4S,5E,7Z)-4-hydroperoxy-1,5,7-triene motif. Thus, At13HPL may not only be used for the production of C6-derived volatiles, but depending on the substrate may be further used for the production of Cg-derived volatiles as well.     

Biosynthesis of C9-aldehydes in the moss Physcomitrella patens

After wounding, the moss Physcomitrella patens emits fatty acid derived volatiles like octenal, octenols and (2E)-nonenal. Flowering plants produce nonenal from C18-fatty acids via lipoxygenase and hydroperoxide lyase reactions, but the moss exploits the C20 precursor arachidonic acid for the formation of these oxylipins. We describe the isolation of the first cDNA (PpHPL) encoding a hydroperoxide lyase from a lower eukaryotic organism. The physiological pathway allocation and characterization of a downstream enal-isomerase gives a new picture for the formation of fatty acid derived volatiles from lower plants. Expression of a fusion protein with a yellow fluorescent protein in moss protoplasts showed that PpHPL was found in clusters in membranes of plastids. PpHPL can be classified as an unspecific hydroperoxide lyase having a substrate preference for 9-hydroperoxides of C18-fatty acids but also the predominant substrate 12-hydroperoxy arachidonic acid is accepted. Feeding experiments using arachidonic acid show an increase in the 12-hydroperoxide being metabolized to C8-aldehydes/alcohols and (3Z)-nonenal, which is rapidly isomerized to (2E)-nonenal. PpHPL knock out lines failed to emit (2E)-nonenal while formation of C8-volatiles was not affected indicating that in contrast to flowering plants, PpHPL is only involved in formation of a specific subset of volatiles.     

The formation of cis-3-nonenal, trans-2-nonenal and hexanal from linoleic acid hydroperoxide isomers by a hydroperoxide cleavage enzyme system in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) fruits.

1. A particulate enzyme fraction and an acetone powder preparation from cucumber fruits cleaved 9- and 13-hydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acids to form volatile aldehydes and oxoacid fragments. 2. From the 9-hydroperoxide, the major volatile fragments were cis-3-nonenal and trans-2-nonenal using particulate enzyme and acetone powder preparations, respectively. 3. Hexanal was the only significant volatile fragment from the 13-hydroperoxide. 4. The particulate enzyme system was equally effective on both 9- and 13-hydroperoxide isomers and was fully active under anaerobic conditions and at pH 6.4. 5. An enzymic pathway for the biogenesis of hexanal, cis-3- and trans-2-nonenal (components of the characteristic flavour volatiles of cucumber) from linoleic acid is proposed. This involves the sequential activity of lipoxygenase, hydroperoxide cleavage and cis-3-: trans-2-enal isomerase enzymes.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of an almond 9-hydroperoxide lyase, a new CYP74 targeted to lipid bodies

Oxylipin metabolism represents one of many defence mechanisms employed by plants. It begins with the oxygenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids by lipoxygenases to form fatty acid hydroperoxides that are substrates for several enzymes, including specialized cytochrome P450s known as CYP74s. The targeting of a new CYP74, a 9-hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) from almonds, to the endomembrane system and lipid bodies, both as enzyme activity in almond seeds and as GFP fusions transiently expressed in tobacco protoplasts, is described. Such association of a CYP74 with lipid bodies has not been reported previously. Also described are the properties of a 9-HPL gene, the developmental regulation of its expression, the production and characterization of recombinant 9-HPL in Escherichia coli, and the developmental correlation between gene expression, enzyme activity, and the appearance of volatile C9 aldehydes from HPL action.     

Overexpression of hydroperoxide lyase,peroxygenase and epoxide hydrolase in tobacco for the biotechnological production of flavours and polymer precursors

Plants produce short‐chain aldehydes and hydroxy fatty acids, which are important industrial materials, through the lipoxygenase pathway. Based on the information that lipoxygenase activity is up‐regulated in tobacco leaves upon infection with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), we introduced a melon hydroperoxide lyase (CmHPL) gene, a tomato peroxygenase (SlPXG) gene and a potato epoxide hydrolase (StEH) into tobacco leaves using a TMV‐based viral vector system to afford aldehyde and hydroxy fatty acid production. Ten days after infiltration, tobacco leaves infiltrated with CmHPL displayed high enzyme activities of 9‐LOX and 9‐HPL, which could efficiently transform linoleic acid into C₉ aldehydes. Protein extracts prepared from 1 g of CmHPL‐infiltrated tobacco leaves (fresh weight) in combination with protein extracts prepared from 1 g of control vector‐infiltrated tobacco leaves (as an additional 9‐LOX source) produced 758 ± 75 μg total C₉ aldehydes in 30 min. The yield of C₉ aldehydes from linoleic acid was 60%. Besides, leaves infiltrated with SlPXG and StEH showed considerable enzyme activities of 9‐LOX/PXG and 9‐LOX/EH, respectively, enabling the production of 9,12,13‐trihydroxy‐10(E)‐octadecenoic acid from linoleic acid. Protein extracts prepared from 1 g of SlPXG‐infiltrated tobacco leaves (fresh weight) in combination with protein extracts prepared from 1 g of StEH‐infiltrated tobacco leaves produced 1738 ± 27 μg total 9,12,13‐trihydroxy‐10(E)‐octadecenoic acid isomers in 30 min. The yield of trihydroxyoctadecenoic acids from linoleic acid was 58%. C₉ aldehydes and trihydroxy fatty acids could likely be produced on a larger scale using this expression system with many advantages including easy handling, time‐saving and low production cost.     

A lipid-hydrolysing activity involved in hexenal formation

Short-chain aldehydes such as (3Z)-hexenal and n-hexanal are formed from lipids through sequential actions of lipid-hydrolysing, lipoxygenase and fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase activities. The aldehydes are formed upon wounding of plant tissues, and are reported to have bactericidal and fungicidal activities. Furthermore, it has been reported that the aldehydes can induce expression of a subset of genes involved in disease resistance and that they are involved in a defence response against insect herbivores. Although several genes encoding lipoxygenases and the lyases have been isolated, and characterized to some extent, only little is known about the enzyme accountable for the lipid-hydrolysing step. In this study, we tried to characterize the lipid-hydrolysing activity involved in the short-chain aldehyde formation in Arabidopsis. When Arabidopsis leaves were homogenized, (3Z)-hexenal was formed rapidly within a few minutes. During this time period, the amount of alpha-linolenic acid and C(16:3) rapidly decreased. Such a rapid increase of the aldehyde was repressed almost completely when the leaves were homogenized under a nitrogen stream, and instead free trienoic acids accumulated. A lipase inhibitor, quinacrine, successfully repressed the hydrolysis. It was revealed that trienoic acids in monogalactosyldiacylglycerol were predominantly hydrolysed during the formation of short-chain aldehydes. Collectively, it is suggested that the lipolytic enzyme involved in the short-chain aldehyde formation is a galactolipid-specific lipase.     

Phospholipase A2 activity triggers the wound-activated chemical defense in the diatom Thalassiosira rotula

The activation of oxylipin-based chemical defense in the diatom Thalassiosira rotula is initiated by phospholipases that act immediately after cell damage. This lipase activity is responsible for the preferential release of free mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Among these, eicosatetraenoic- and eicosapentaenoic acid are further converted by lipoxygenases to reactive defensive metabolites such as the antiproliferative alpha,beta,gamma,delta-unsaturated aldehydes 2,4-decadienal and 2,4,7-decatrienal. We show that mainly saturated free fatty acids are present in the intact diatom T. rotula, whereas the amount of free polyunsaturated eicosanoids is drastically increased in the first minutes after wounding. Using fluorescent probes, the main enzyme activity responsible for initiation of the aldehyde-generating lipase/lipoxygenase/hydroperoxide lyase cascade was characterized as a phospholipase A2. All enzymes involved in this specific defensive reaction are active in seawater over several minutes. Thus, the mechanism allows the unicellular algae to overcome restrictions arising out of potential dilution of defensive metabolites. Only upon predation are high local concentrations of aldehydes formed in the vicinity of the herbivores, whereas in times of low stress, cellular resources can be invested in the formation of eicosanoid-rich phospholipids. In contrast to higher plants, which use lipases acting on galactolipids to release C18 fatty acids for production of leaf-volatile aldehydes, diatoms rely on phospholipids and the transformation of C20 fatty acids to form 2,4-decadienal and 2,4,7-decatrienal as an activated defense.     

Profiling of Volatile Compounds and Associated Gene Expression and Enzyme Activity during Fruit Development in Two Cucumber Cultivars

Changes in volatile content, as well as associated gene expression and enzyme activity in developing cucumber fruits were investigated in two Cucumis sativus L. lines (No. 26 and No. 14) that differ significantly in fruit flavor. Total volatile, six-carbon (C6) aldehyde, linolenic and linoleic acid content were higher during the early stages, whereas the nine-carbon (C9) aldehyde content was higher during the latter stages in both lines. Expression of C. sativus hydroperoxide lyase (CsHPL) mirrored 13-hydroperoxide lyase (13-HPL) enzyme activity in variety No. 26, whereas CsHPL expression was correlated with 9-hydroperoxide lyase (9-HPL) enzyme activity in cultivar No. 14. 13-HPL activity decreased significantly, while LOX (lipoxygenase) and 9-HPL activity increased along with fruit ripening in both lines, which accounted for the higher C6 and C9 aldehyde content at 0-6 day post anthesis (dpa) and 9-12 dpa, respectively. Volatile compounds from fruits at five developmental stages were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA), and heatmaps of volatile content, gene expression and enzyme activity were constructed.     

Hydroperoxide metabolism in trout gill tissue: effect of glutathione on lipoxygenase products generated from arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid

The generation of oxygenated products from arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid by the n-9 lipoxygenase of trout gill was monitored as a function of substrate concentration and added glutathione. In the absence of added glutathione up to 50% of the substrate consumed by the lipoxygenase was ultimately converted non-enzymatically to trihydroxy derivatives of the initial n-9 hydroperoxide enzyme product. The presence of added glutathione progressively increased conversion of the respective fatty acid hydroperoxides to the n-9 monohydroxy derivatives of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids while concomitantly decreasing the yield of trihydroxy derivatives, consistent with its role as a cosubstrate in the peroxidase reaction. The stability and net turnover of the lipoxygenase were also significantly improved by the addition of glutathione. The relative distribution of monohydroxy and trihydroxy products from either arachidonic acid or docosahexaenoic acid were similarly affected and equally sensitive to the glutathione concentration. These data suggest that in animals, the hydroperoxides of n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids generated by lipoxygenases are equally metabolized by the peroxide scavenging capabilities of the tissue.     

Structural Characterization of Hydroperoxide Lyase in Dodecyl Maltoside by Using Circular Dichroism

Fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) is a membrane protein, member of the lipoxygenase pathway, which holds a central role in plant defense. Green bell pepper fatty acid hydroperoxide lyase, overexpressed in Escherichia coli, was purified and solubilized in two different non ionic detergents, Triton X-100 and dodecyl maltoside (DM). DM is considered to be more useful compared to Triton X-100, as it allows characterization of the protein with spectroscopic techniques, for which Triton X-100 was inapplicable. Circular dichroism demonstrated that HPL’s secondary structure in DM consists of 13.53 % α-helix, 32.73 % β-sheet, 21.76 % turn and 31.13 % unordered.     

The impact of alteration of polyunsaturated fatty acid levels on C6-aldehyde formation of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves.

C6-aldehydes are synthesized via lipoxygenase/hydroperoxide lyase action on polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) substrates in plant leaves. The source pools and subcellular location of the processes are unknown. A close relationship is found between the composition of PUFA and the composition of C6-aldehydes. In the current study, this relationship was tested using the Arabidopsis PUFA mutant lines act1, fad2, fad3, fad5, fad6, and fad7. The results indicate that C6-aldehyde formation is influenced by the alteration of C18 PUFA levels. Mutants act1 and fad5, which are deficient in C16 unsaturated fatty acids, had wild-type levels of C6-aldehyde production. Mutants deficient in the chloroplast hexadecenoic acid/oleic acid desaturase (fad6) or hexadecadienoic acid/linoleic acid desaturase (fad7) had altered C6-aldehyde formation in a pattern similar to the changes in the PUFA. Mutations that impair phosphatidylcholine desaturase activity, such as fad2 and fad3, however, resulted in increased E-2-hexenal formation. The enzymes involved in C6-aldehyde production were partially characterized, including measurement of pH optima. The differences in C6-aldehyde formation among the fatty acid mutants of Arabidopsis appeared not to result from alteration of lipoxygenase/hydroperoxide lyase pathway enzymes. Investigation of the fatty acid composition in leaf phospholipids, glycolipids, and neutral lipids and analysis of the fatty acid composition of chloroplast and extrachloroplast lipids indicate that chloroplasts and glycolipids of chloroplasts may be the source or major source of C6-aldehyde formation in Arabidopsis leaves.     

Plant hydroperoxide-cleaving enzymes (CYP74 family) function as hemiacetal synthases: Structural proof of hemiacetals by NMR spectroscopy

Hydroperoxide lyases (HPLs) of the CYP74 family (P450 superfamily) are widely distributed enzymes in higher plants and are responsible for the stress-initiated accumulation of short-chain aldehydes. Fatty acid hydroperoxides serve as substrates for HPLs; however, details of the HPL-promoted conversion are still incompletely understood. In the present work, we report first time the micropreparative isolation and the NMR structural studies of fatty acid hemiacetal (TMS/TMS), the short-lived HPL product. With this aim, linoleic acid 9(S)?hydroperoxide (9(S)?HPOD) was incubated with recombinant melon hydroperoxide lyase (CmHPL, CYP74C2) in a biphasic system of water/hexane for 60?s at 0?°C, pH?4.0. The hexane layer was immediately decanted and vortexed with a trimethylsilylating mixture. Analysis by GC–MS revealed a major product, i.e. the bis-TMS derivative of a hemiacetal which was conclusively identified as 9?hydroxy?9?[(1′E,3′Z)?nonadienyloxy]?nonanoic acid by NMR-spectroscopy. Further support for the hemiacetal structure was provided by detailed NMR-spectroscopic analysis of the bis-TMS hemiacetal generated from [¹³C₁₈]9(S)?HPOD in the presence of CmHPL. The results obtained provide incontrovertible evidence that the true products of the HPL group of enzymes are hemiacetals, and that the short-chain aldehydes are produced by their rapid secondary chain breakdown. Therefore, we suggest replacing the name “hydroperoxide lyase”, which does not reflect the factual isomerase (intramolecular oxidoreductase) activity, with “hemiacetal synthase” (HAS).     

Hydroperoxide lyases (CYP74C and CYP74B) catalyze the homolytic isomerization of fatty acid hydroperoxides into hemiacetals

The conversion of linoleic acid 9-hydroperoxide (9-HPOD) by recombinant melon (Cucumis melo L.) hydroperoxide lyase (HPL, CYP74C subfamily) was studied. Short (5 s-1 min) incubations at 0 degrees C followed by rapid extraction and trimethylsilylation made it possible to trap a new unstable (t(1/2) <30 s) product, i.e. the hemiacetal (1'E,3'Z)-9-hydroxy-9-(1',3'-nonadienyloxy)-nonanoic acid. Identification was performed by GC-MS analysis and substantiated by the formation of trimethylsilyl 9-trimethylsilyloxy-9-nonyloxy-nonanoate upon catalytic hydrogenation and by (2)H-labelling experiments. Both (18)O atoms of [(18)O(2)-hydroperoxy]9-HPOD were incorporated into the hemiacetal. Along with the hemiacetal, three chain-cleavage products, i.e. the enol (1E,3Z)-nonadienol and the hydrates of 3(Z)-nonenal and 9-oxononanoic acid, were trapped as their trimethylsilyl derivatives. The kinetics of (18)O incorporation from [(18)O(2)]9-HPOD provided strong evidence that the cleavage products originated in the hemiacetal. Linolenic and linoleic acid 13-hydroperoxides served as substrates for recombinant HPLs of melon, alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and guava (Psidium guajava), and in each case hemiacetals and enols were detectable by the trapping technique. The data obtained demonstrated that CYP74C and CYP74B HPLs act as isomerases performing a homolytic rearrangement of fatty acid hydroperoxides into short-lived hemiacetals which upon decomposition produce 3(Z)-nonenal, 3(Z)-hexenal and other short chain aldehydes.