Abstract
A lipoxygenase (EC 1.13.1.13) was partially purified from potato tubers and was shown to differ from previously characterized soya-bean lipoxygenases in the positional specificity and pH characteristics of the oxygenation reaction. The potato enzyme converted linoleic acid almost exclusively (95%) into 9-d-hydroperoxyoctadeca-trans-10,cis-12-dienoic acid. The 13-hydroperoxy isomer was only a minor product (5%). Linolenic acid was an equally effective substrate, which was also oxygenated specifically at the 9-position. The enzyme had a pH optimum at 5.5-6.0 and was inactive at pH9.0. A half-maximal velocity was obtained at a linoleic acid concentration of 0.1mm. No inhibition was observed with EDTA (1mm) and cyanide (1mm) or with p-chloromercuribenzoate (0.2mm). Haemoproteins were not involved in the lipoxygenase activity. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated from gel filtration to be approx. 10(5). Preliminary evidence suggested that the enzyme oxygenated the n-10 position of fatty acids containing a penta(n-3, n-6)diene structure.