title: The basis of prostaglandin synthesis in coral: molecular cloning and expression of a cyclooxygenase from the Arctic soft coral Gersemia fruticosa.
abstract: In vertebrates, the synthesis of prostaglandin hormones is catalyzed by cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, a constitutively expressed enzyme with physiological functions, and COX-2, induced in inflammation and cancer. Prostaglandins have been detected in high concentrations in certain corals, and previous evidence suggested their biosynthesis through a lipoxygenase-allene oxide pathway. Here we describe the discovery of an ancestor of cyclooxygenases that is responsible for prostaglandin biosynthesis in coral. Using a homology-based polymerase chain reaction cloning strategy, the cDNA encoding a polypeptide with approximately 50% amino acid identity to both mammalian COX-1 and COX-2 was cloned and sequenced from the Arctic soft coral Gersemia fruticosa. Nearly all the amino acids essential for substrate binding and catalysis as determined in the mammalian enzymes are represented in coral COX: the arachidonate-binding Arg(120) and Tyr(355) are present, as are the heme-coordinating His(207) and His(388); the catalytic Tyr(385); and the target of aspirin attack, Ser(530). A key amino acid that determines the sensitivity to selective COX-2 inhibitors (Ile(523) in COX-1 and Val(523) in COX-2) is present in coral COX as isoleucine. The conserved Glu(524), implicated in the binding of certain COX inhibitors, is represented as alanine. Expression of the G. fruticosa cDNA afforded a functional cyclooxygenase that converted exogenous arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. The biosynthesis was inhibited by indomethacin, whereas the selective COX-2 inhibitor nimesulide was ineffective. We conclude that the cyclooxygenase occurs widely in the animal kingdom and that vertebrate COX-1 and COX-2 are evolutionary derivatives of the invertebrate precursor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Tallinn Technical University, Akadeemia tee 15, Tallinn 12618, Estonia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koljak
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Järving
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kurg
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Boeglin
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Varvas
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Valmsen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ustav
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Brash
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Samel
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine / Q000737:chemistry; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000737:chemistry; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D019556:COS Cells; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003063:Cnidaria / Q000378:metabolism*; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006639:Histidine / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000737:chemistry; D007532:Isoleucine / Q000737:chemistry; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011485:Protein Binding; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012694:Serine / Q000737:chemistry; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011453:Prostaglandins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007532:Isoleucine; D014443:Tyrosine; D012694:Serine; D006639:Histidine; D001120:Arginine; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496511:PTGS1 protein, human; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D000409:Alanine