Leukotriene inflammatory mediators meet their match.
Leukotrienes are arachidonic acid-derived lipid mediators of inflammation. The initial catalytic step in the formation of leukotrienes is catalyzed by 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) in conjunction with its activating partner protein FLAP. The long-awaited crystal structure of 5-LOX--reported in a recent issue of Science--should lead to novel, purpose-designed inhibitors for the treatment of asthma and for probing leukotriene involvement in cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Department of Physiology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada. funkc@queensu.ca
Colin D
CD
Funk
D000818:Animals; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D001249:Asthma / Q000378:metabolism; D001671:Biochemistry / Q000266:history; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray / Q000379:methods; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015289:Leukotrienes / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control
D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015289:Leukotrienes; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase