Isolation and characterization of a novel PHGPx gene in Raphanus sativus

A full-length cDNA encoding putative phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) was cloned from Raphanus sativus. The cDNA, designated RsPHGPx, includes an open reading frame which encodes 197 amino acid residues. The alignment of amino acid sequences showed that RsPHGPx had the highest sequence homology to plant PHGPx and contained an N-terminal extension characteristic of a mitochondrial targeting peptide. Northern blot analysis indicated that RsPHGPx was constitutively and ubiquitously expressed during radish development, and its expression was differently regulated by various stress conditions. The expression of RsPHGPx in a yeast PHGPx-deletion mutant significantly rescued the mutant sensitivity to oxidation-sensitive linolenic acid, just as the yeast PHGPx3 gene did. This suggested that RsPHGPx encodes a functional PHGPx protein.     

用免疫亲和层析法纯化萝卜 PHGPx 天然蛋白

萝卜磷脂氢谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶 (RsPHGPx) 是一个定位于线粒体的蛋白质 . 为了阐明该蛋白质线粒体定位信号的准确切割位点,采用了免疫亲和层析方法纯化天然的 RsPHGPx. 用重组 RsPHGPx 蛋白免疫兔子获得了抗 RsPHGPx 的多克隆抗血清,以重组 RsPHGPx 蛋白为配体,采用亲和层析技术对抗血清进行了纯化,得到了单特异性的抗 RsPHGPx 的抗体 . 将纯化好的抗体偶联到一个 N- 羟基琥珀酰亚胺 (NHS) 预先激活的琼脂糖柱子上,装配成一个以单特异性的抗 RsPHGPx 抗体为配体的免疫亲和层析柱 . 经过对纯化条件的摸索和优化,形成了一个简单、特异的一步法纯化方案 . 按照该方案,从萝卜幼苗线粒体总蛋白质提取物中纯化到一个分子质量与预期值相一致的特异蛋白质 . 免疫印迹分析表明,该蛋白质被抗 RsPHGPx 的抗血清特异识别 . 酶活性分析表明,该蛋白质具有显著的 PHGPx 活性 . 这些结果表明,纯化到的特异蛋白质是萝卜的 RsPHGPx 天然蛋白 . 这是首个关于定位于植物细胞器的 PHGPx 蛋白纯化的报道 . 这一结果为准确测定 RsPHGPx 信号肽的切割位点奠定了基础,并将有助于对植物 PHGPx 的亚细胞定位机制及其生理功能的深入研究 .     

萝卜磷脂氢谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶基因结构及其调控序列分析

磷脂氢谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶 (PHGPx) 是谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶 (GPx) 家族的重要一员,是目前已知能直接保护生物膜免受过氧化损伤的唯一酶类 . 此前的研究表明,萝卜磷脂氢谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶基因 (RsPHGPx) 编码一个有生理功能的过氧化物酶 , 并且 RsPHGPx 基因的表达可能受发育和环境胁迫信号的复杂调控 . 要深入了解该基因的表达调控机制首先必须阐明 RsPHGPx 基因的结构及其上游调控序列 . DNA 印迹表明萝卜 RsPHGPx 基因以单拷贝的形式存在于基因组中 . 以基因组 DNA 为模板,通过常规 PCR 与染色体步行相结合的方法克隆到了一段 3.3 kb 长的 RsPHGPx 基因组序列 . 分析发现,该基因由 7 个外显子和 6 个内含子组成,所有内含子的剪切位点均符合真核生物 GT-AG 规则 . 另外还发现该基因的上游基因是生物素合成酶基因;位于 RsPHGPx 基因上游的调控序列只有不足 300 bp. 这些结构特征与拟南芥 AtGPX3 基因极其相似 . 顺式作用元件的数据库搜索发现 RsPHGPx 基因的上游调控序列含有多个响应激素 ( 如 E-Box 和 W-Box) 、胁迫 ( 如转录因子 MYB 和 MYC 的结合位点 ) 和光 ( 如 Box Ⅱ和Ⅰ -Box) 信号的元件 . RNA 印迹分析表明 RsPHGPx 基因的表达受到脱落酸 (ABA) 和连续光照 ( 在黄化苗中 ) 处理的负调控,受到冷胁迫 (4℃ ) 的正调控,这暗示了预测的顺式作用元件的调控作用 . 然而,除草剂 paraquat 对该基因表达的正调控作用,暗示了某些与氧化胁迫相关的未知元件的存在 . 这些结果进一步印证了 RsPHGPx 基因的表达受发育和环境胁迫信号复杂调控的推测 . 这是迄今为止首个关于植物 PHGPx 基因结构和上游调控序列的系统报道,为今后全面认识植物 PHGPx 基因的表达调控机制奠定了必要基础 .     

原核表达的萝卜PHGPx对黑色素瘤B16细胞紫外辐射损伤的恢复作用

将大肠杆菌中高效表达的萝卜PHGPx（RsPHGPx）和突变的RsPHGPx（mRsPHGPx）融合蛋白,经Glutathione Sepharose 4B柱亲和纯化和PreScission蛋白酶柱上酶切,获得了不含GST标签的RsPHGPx和mRsPHGPx重组蛋白,纯度在90%以上。酶活测定验证了活性中心Cys突变的mRsPHGPx的活性显著低于RsPHGPx。考察RsPHGPx和mRsPHGPx对紫外辐射损伤后的黑色素瘤B16细胞的恢复作用,发现活性较高的RsPHGPx能有效提高细胞存活率,降低细胞膜脂质过氧化水平,而活性极低的mRsPHGPx则几乎没有效果,提示由于RsPHGPx能快速清除多种脂类过氧化物,可能主要通过抑制紫外辐射造成的细胞膜脂质过氧化损伤起作用。     

Role of calcium-induced mitochondrial hydroperoxide in induction of apoptosis of RBL2H3 cells with eicosapentaenoic acid treatment

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) was previously shown to induce caspase-independent apoptosis in rat basophilic leukemia cells (RBL2H3 cells) by translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) [Free Radic Res (2005) 39, 225-235]. Here, we attempted to investigate the mechanism of EPA-induced apoptosis. A rapid and sustained increase in calcium was observed in mitochondria at 2 h after the addition of EPA prior to apoptosis. Coincidently, hydroperoxide was generated in the mitochondria after exposure to EPA. Production of mitochondrial hydroperoxide was significantly reduced by ruthenium red, an inhibitor of mitochondrial calcium uniporter, and BAPTA-AM, a cytoplasmic calcium chelator, indicating that generation of hydroperoxide is triggered by an accumulation of calcium in the mitochondria. The production of mitochondrial hydroperoxide was markedly attenuated by overexpression of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) in the mitochondria. Apoptosis was therefore, significantly prevented through inhibition of mitochondrial hydroperoxide generation with mitochondrial PHGPx, ruthenium red or BAPTA-AM. However, accumulation of calcium in the mitochondria was not prevented by mitochondrial PHGPx although apoptosis was blocked, indicating that elevated calcium does not directly induce apoptosis. Taken together, our results show that calcium-dependent hydroperoxide accumulation in the mitochondria is critical in EPA-induced apoptosis.     

Distribution of glutathione peroxidases glutathione reductase in rat brain mitochondria

The distribution of glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) in isolated rat brain mitochondria was investigated. using a fractionation procedure for the separation of inner and outer membranes, contact sites between the two membranes and a soluble fraction mainly originating from the mitochondrial matrix. The data indicate that GR and GPx are concentrated in the soluble fraction, with a minor portion of the two enzymes being associated with the contact sites. PHGPx is localized largely in the inner membrane. The possible functional significance of these findings is discussed.     

Spatiotemporal changes of levels of a moonlighting protein,phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase,in subcellular compartments during spermatogenesis in the rat testis

We studied temporal changes in the subcellular localization and levels of a moonlighting protein, phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx), in spermatogenic cells and mature sperm of the rat by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. The PHGPx signals were detected in chromatoid bodies, clear nucleoplasm, mitochondria-associated material, mitochondrial aggregates, granulated bodies, and vesicles in residual bodies in addition to mitochondria, nuclei, and acrosomes as previously reported. Within mitochondria, PHGPx moved from the matrix to the outermost membrane region in step 19 spermatid, suggesting that this spatiotemporal change is synchronized with the functional change of PHGPx in mitochondria. In the nucleus, PHGPx was associated with electron-lucent spots and with the nuclear envelope, and PHGPx in the latter region increased after step 16. In early pachytene spermatids, PHGPx signals were noted in the nuclear material exhibiting a very similar density to chromatoid bodies and in the intermitochondrial cement, supporting the previous proposal that chromatoid bodies originate from the nucleus and intermitochondrial cement. The presence of PHGPx in such various compartments suggested versatile roles for this protein in spermatogenesis. Quantitative immunoelectron microscopic analysis also revealed dynamic changes in the labeling density of PHGPx in different subcellular compartments as follows: 1). Total cellular PHGPx rapidly increased after step 5 and reached a maximum at step 18; 2). mitochondrial labeling density increased after step 1 and achieved a maximum in steps 15-17; 3). nuclear labeling density suddenly increased in steps 12-14 to a maximum; 4). in cytoplasmic matrix, the density remained low in all steps; and 5). the labeling density in chromatoid bodies gradually decreased from pachytene spermatocytes to spermatids at step 18. These spatiotemporal changes in the level of PHGPx during the differentiation of spermatogenic cells to sperm infer that PHGPx plays a diverse and important biological role in spermatogenesis.     

原核表达的萝卜PHGPx和谷胱甘肽对NIH3T3细胞氧化损伤的联合保护作用

将大肠杆菌中高效表达的萝卜磷脂氢谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(RsPHGPx)及其底物还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)联合作用于H2O2、过氧化叔丁基(t-BHP)以及磷脂氢过氧化物(PLPCOOH)损伤的小鼠NIH3T3成纤维细胞,研究其对于细胞过氧化损伤的保护作用。发现单独加入10 μg/ml RsPHGPx并不能明显保护细胞应对过氧化损伤,但是10 μg/ml RsPHGPx与3 mg/ml GSH共同作用,可显著提高GSH对细胞过氧化损伤的保护效果,提高细胞存活率,降低细胞膜脂质过氧化水平和胞内活性氧(ROS)水平,保护细胞维持形态完整和抑制细胞凋亡。这一联合作用结果说明RsPHGPx的催化作用可以快速清除细胞内多种过氧化物,高效地保护细胞免受过氧化损伤,为RsPHGPx的应用提供了实验依据。     

Failure of the expression of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase in the spermatozoa of human infertile males

Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) was intensely expressed in mitochondria in the midpiece of human spermatozoa by immunostaining with anti-PHGPx monoclonal antibodies. The PHGPx not only reduced phospholipid hydroperoxide but also scavenged hydrogen peroxide in human spermatozoa. We found a dramatic decrease in the level of expression of PHGPx in the spermatozoa of some infertile males by immunoblotting with anti-PHGPx monoclonal antibodies. These individuals accounted for about 10% of the group of 73 infertile males that we examined. All seven patients with PHGPx-defective spermatozoa were classified as suffering from oligoasthenozoospermia, a defect in which both the number and the motility of spermatozoa are significantly below normal. Males with PHGPx-defective spermatozoa accounted for 26% of the 27 infertile males with oligoasthenozoospermia. No defects in expression of PHGPx in spermatozoa were observed in 31 fertile volunteers. After a 3-h incubation, the relative number of motile spermatozoa with low-level expression of PHGPx was significantly lower than that of spermatozoa with normal expression of PHGPx. The PHGPx-defective spermatozoa failed to incorporate rhodamine 123, revealing a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Ultrastructual analysis of mitochondria by electron microscopy demonstrated that the morphology of mitochondria in PHGPx-defective spermatozoa was abnormal. The results suggest that failure of the expression of mitochondrial PHGPx in spermatozoa might be one of the causes of oligoasthenozoospermia in infertile men.     

Male fertility is linked to the selenoprotein phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase

The selenoprotein phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) accounts for almost the entire selenium content of mammalian testis. PHGPx is abundantly expressed in spermatids as active peroxidase but is transformed to an oxidatively inactivated protein in mature sperm, where it is a major constituent of the mitochondrial capsule in the midpiece. Male infertility in selenium-deficient animals, which is characterized by impaired sperm motility and morphological midpiece alterations, is considered to result from insufficient PHGPx content. We studied the relationship between sperm PHGPx, measured as rescued activity, and human fertility. Sperm specimens from 75 infertile men and 37 controls were analyzed for fertility-related parameters according to World Health Organization criteria. The PHGPx protein content was estimated after reductive solubilization of the spermatozoa by measuring the rescued PHGPx activity. Rescued PHGPx activity of infertile men ranged significantly below that of controls (93.2 +/- 60.1 units/mg sperm protein vs. 187.5 +/- 55.3 units/mg) and was particularly low in oligoasthenozoospermic specimens (61.93 +/- 45.42 units/mg; P < 0.001 compared with controls and asthenozoospermic samples). Rescued PHGPx activity was correlated positively with viability, morphological integrity, and most profoundly forward motility (r = 0.35, 0.44, and 0.45, respectively). In isolated motile samples, motility decreased faster with decreasing PHGPx content. In humans, PHGPx appears to be indispensable for structural integrity of spermatozoa and to codetermine sperm motility and viability. Because the content of PHGPx, irrespective of the cause of alteration, is correlated with fertility-related parameters, PHGPx can be considered a predictive measure for fertilization capacity.     

Mitochondrial phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase suppresses apoptosis mediated by a mitochondrial death pathway.

Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) is a key enzyme in the protection of biomembranes exposed to oxidative stress. We investigated the role of mitochondrial PHGPx in apoptosis using RBL2H3 cells that overexpressed mitochondrial PHGPx (M15 cells), cells that overexpressed non-mitochondrial PHGPx (L9 cells), and control cells (S1 cells). The morphological changes and fragmentation of DNA associated with apoptosis occurred within 15 h in S1 and L9 cells upon exposure of cells to 2-deoxyglucose (2DG). The release of cytochrome c from mitochondria was observed in S1 cells after 4 h and was followed by the activation of caspase-3 within 6 h. Overexpression of mitochondrial PHGPx prevented the release of cytochrome c, the activation of caspase-3, and apoptosis, but non-mitochondrial PHGPx lacked the ability to prevent the induction of apoptosis by 2DG. An ability to protect cells from 2DG-induced apoptosis was abolished when the PHGPx activity of M15 cells was inhibited by diethylmalate, indicating that the resistance of M15 cells to apoptosis was indeed due to the overexpression of PHGPx in the mitochondria. The expression of members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins, such as Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bax, and Bad, was unchanged by the overexpression of PHGPx in cells. The levels of hydroperoxides, including hydrogen and lipid peroxide, in mitochondria isolated from S1 and L9 cells were significantly increased after the exposure to 2DG for 2 h, while the level of hydroperoxide in mitochondria isolated from M15 cells was lower than that in S1 and L9 cells. M15 cells were also resistant to apoptosis induced by etoposide, staurosporine, UV irradiation, cycloheximide, and actinomycin D, but not to apoptosis induced by Fas-specific antibodies, which induces apoptosis via a pathway distinct from the pathway initiated by 2DG. Our results suggest that hydroperoxide, produced in mitochondria, is a major factor in apoptosis and that mitochondrial PHGPx might play a critical role as an anti-apoptotic agent in mitochondrial death pathways.     

Identification of a hamster sperm 26-kilodalton dehydrogenase/reductase that is exclusively localized to the mitochondria of the flagellum

Sperm mitochondria undergo remodeling during posttesticular maturation that includes extensive disulfide cross-linking of proteins of the outer membrane to form the insoluble mitochondrial capsule. The relationship of these changes to mitochondrial function in mature gametes is unclear. The phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (GPX4; also termed PHGPx) represents a major disulfide bond-stabilized protein of the mitochondrial capsule, and it is readily released by disulfide-reducing agents. However, in addition to GPX4, we detected a second major protein of 26 kDa (MP26) that was eluted from purified hamster sperm tails by the disulfide-reducing agent dithiothreitol. The objectives of the present study were to identify and characterize MP26 and to explore its potential role in mitochondrial function. Proteomic analysis of MP26 by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) identified 14 peptides with sequence identity to a member of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase superfamily termed P26h, which was implicated previously in hamster sperm-zona binding, and with high sequence similarity to mouse lung carbonyl reductase. Indirect immunofluorescence localized MP26 to the midpiece, and two-dimensional PAGE and immunoblot analysis identified a single MP26 isoform of pI 9.0. Immunoblot analyses of cauda epididymal fluid and of purified sperm plasma membranes and mitochondria revealed the exclusive localization of MP26 to the mitochondrial fraction. These data indicate that MP26 does not function in zona binding; instead, like GPX4, it may be associated with the mitochondrial capsule and play an important role in sperm mitochondrial function.     

Identification of an endogenous inhibitor of arachidonate metabolism in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells

Eicosanoids, which include prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes, are produced from arachidonic acid by three main pathways in cells, including cyclooxygenases and lipoxygenases, and cytochrome P450 enzymes. Accumulated evidence indicates that a certain peroxide tone is required for the initiation of reaction by lipoxygenases and cyclooxygenases. An endogenous inhibitor of arachidonate oxygenation was suspected in the cytosolic fraction of human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells. After a series of studies, the existence of this inhibitor was confirmed, while it was purified and characterized. By amino acid sequence analysis, the inhibitor in A431 cells was subsequently identified as a phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx). Depletion of cellular glutathione in cells by diethyl maleate or by dibuthionine-sulfoximine results in an increase in enzyme activities of 12(S)-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase, suggesting that glutathione-depleting agents abolish the enzyme activity of PHGPx in cells. Stable transfectants of A431 cells with overexpression and depletion of PHGPx have been constructed, respectively. Reduction of arachidonate metabolism through 12(S)-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase 1 and that of the arsenite-induced generation of reactive oxygen species are observed in cells overexpressing PHGPx. On the other hand, enhancement of arachidonate metabolism and the arsenite-induced generation of reactive oxygen species is detected in PHGPx-depleted cells. In conclusion, the endogenous inhibitor of arachidonate metabolism present in A431 cells is a PHGPx, which plays a functional role in the down-regulation of arachidonate oxygenation catalyzed by 12(S)-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase 1 through the reduction of the level of intracellular lipid hydroperoxides. The latter acts as the peroxide tone for arachidonate metabolism in A431 cells.     

Purification of a cytosolic enzyme from human liver with phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase activity

Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) is a selenoprotein which inhibits peroxidation ofmicrosomes. The human enzyme, which may play an important role in protecting the cell from oxidative damage, has not been purified or characterized. PHGPx was isolated from human liver using ammonium sulphate fractionation, affinity chromatography on bromosulphophthalein-glutathione-agarose, gel filtration on Sephadex G-50, anion exchange chromatography on Mono Q resin and high resolution gel filtration on Superdex 75. The protein was purified about 112,000-fold, and 12 μg, was obtained from 140 g of human liver with a 9% yield. PHGPx was active on hydrogen peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide, linoleic acid hydroperoxide and phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide. The molecular weight, as estimated from non-denaturing gel filtration, was 16,100. The turnover number (37°C, pH 7.6) on (β-(13-hydroperoxy-cis-9, trans-11-octadecadienoyl)-γ-palmitoyl)-l-α-phosphatidylcholine was 91 mol mo⁻¹ s⁻¹. As reported for pig PHGPx, activity of the enzyme from human liver on cumene hydroperoxide and on linoleic acid hydroperoxide was inhibited by deoxycholate. In the presence of glutathione, the enzyme was a potent inhibitor of ascorbate/Fe induced lipid peroxidation in microsomes derived from human B lymphoblastic AHH-1 TK ± CHol cells but not from human liver microsomes. Human cell line microsomes contained no detectable PHGPx activity. However, microsomes prepared from human liver contained 0.009 U/mg of endogenous PHGPx activity, which is 4–5 times the activity required for maximum inhibition of lipid peroxidation when pure PHGPx was added back to human lymphoblastic cell microsomes. PHGPx from human liver exhibits similar properties to previously described enzymes with PHGPx activity isolated from pig and rat tissues, but does not inhibit peroxidation of human liver microsomes owing to a high level of PHGPx activity already present in these microsomes.     

Biological significance of phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx,GPx4) in mammalian cells

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known mediators of intracellular signal cascades. Excessive production of ROS may lead to oxidative stress, loss of cell function, and cell death by apoptosis or necrosis. Lipid hydroperoxides are one type of ROS whose biological function has not yet been clarified. Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx, GPx4) is a unique antioxidant enzyme that can directly reduce phospholipid hydroperoxide in mammalian cells. This contrasts with most antioxidant enzymes, which cannot reduce intracellular phospholipid hydroperoxides directly. In this review, we focus on the structure and biological functions of PHGPx in mammalian cells. Recently, molecular techniques have allowed overexpression of PHGPx in mammalian cell lines, from which it has become clear that lipid hydroperoxides also have an important function as activators of lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase, participate in inflammation, and act as signal molecules for apoptotic cell death and receptor-mediated signal transduction at the cellular level.     

Involvement of hydroperoxide in mitochondria in the induction of apoptosis by the eicosapentaenoic acid

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) induced apoptosis of rat basophilic leukemia cells (RBL2H3 cells), whereas 100 μM linoleic acid (LA) had no significant effect. Cytochrome c was released at 4 h. Apoptosis was detected at 6 h after exposure to EPA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and preceded the activation of caspase-3. Liberation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) from mitochondria and its translocation into the nucleus were observed at 4 h. A broad-specificity caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk, failed to suppress the apoptosis, suggesting that EPA induced caspase-independent apoptosis. On other hand, a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) inhibitor that blocks AIF translocation to the nucleus suppressed EPA-induced apoptosis. The level of hydroperoxide in the cells and mitochondria increased at the early phase of apoptosis within 2 h. On the contrary, elevation of hydroperoxide in mitochondria was not observed after treatment with LA. The EPA-induced apoptosis was abolished by prevention of the hydroperoxide elevation in mitochondria via overexpression of mitochondrial phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx). Neither cytochrome c nor AIF were released from mitochondria in the mitochondrial PHGPx-overexpressing cells. EPA also induced apoptosis in HeLa cells, but not in L929 or RAW264.7 cells. Enhancement of the hydroperoxide level in mitochondria was found in the EPA-sensitive HeLa cells after treatment with EPA, whereas no such enhancement was observed in the apoptosis-resistant L929 and RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that the generation of hydroperoxide in mitochondria induced by EPA is associated with AIF release from mitochondria and the induction of apoptosis.     

Regulation of cyclooxygenase and 12-lipoxygenase catalysis by phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase in A431 cells

Regulation of arachidonate metabolism in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells by phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) and cytosolic glutathione peroxidase (GPx1) was studied. In order to study the effect of reduced glutathione (GSH) on the catalysis regulation of these oxygenation enzymes, diethyl maleate was used to deplete the intracellular GSH. In the presence of 13-hydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acid, the enzymatic catalysis of cyclooxygenase and 12-lipoxygenase was significantly increased in the GSH-depleted cells. In terms of the inhibitory effect on 12-lipoxygenase, PHGPx was more sensitive to GSH concentrations than GPx1. Inhibition of PHGPx activity by the treatment of cells with antisense oligonucleotide of PHGPx mRNA increased the enzymatic catalysis of both cyclooxygenase and 12-lipoxygenase. In conclusion, the results indicate that catalysis of cyclooxygenase and 12-lipoxygenase in A431 cells was regulated by redox-reaction, and PHGPx seems to play an important role in the controlling of these reactions.