Mechanism of biosynthesis of 11R-and 12R-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids by eggs of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus

11(R)-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid 11(R)-HETE] and 12(R)-HETE are biosynthesized by eggs of the sea urchin S. purpuratus. We report here the isolation of the 11(4)- and 12(R)-hydroperoxy-eicosanoids from incubations of the desalted 30-50%(NH4)2SO4 fraction of the egg homogenate; biosynthesis required the addition of calcium but not NADPH. Egg 11- and 12-HETE were formed from octadeuterated arachidonic acid without loss of geminal 2H from C11 or C12, thus revealing that 11- or 12-keto intermediates are not involved in the biosynthesis. The results support the conclusion that egg 11(R)- and 12(R)-HETE are synthesized by a lipoxygenase and not by an NADPH-dependent cytochrome P450 monooxygenase mechanism.