Leukotriene C4 synthase


Introduction

Human leukotriene C4 synthase (LTC4S) converts leukotriene A4 and glutathione to leukotriene C4. It is part of the arachidonic acid cycle. The structure of human leukotriene C4 synthase in a complex with glutathione sulfonate is shown at the right. LTC4S has a single chain with three transmembrane domains,[1] and the crystallized structure 3HKK has sequence from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_sapiens Homo sapiens]. Full crystallographic information is available from OCA.

The gene for LTC4S is found on chromosome 5q35.[2]

LTC4S Activity

Leukotriene C4 synthase is a unique membrane-bound enzyme that catalyzes the committed step in the biosynthesis of all the peptidoleukotrienes, also known as cysteinyl leukotrienes because of the presence of cysteine in their structures. The cysteinyl leukotrienes make up the slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A).

Specifically, LTC4S conjugates reduced glutathione with the unstable epoxide LTA4 to form LTC4, making it a member of the glutathione S-transferase multigene family. Unlike other members of this family, however, LTC4S is not involved in cellular detoxification at all, and instead seems to be exclusively committed to the biosynthesis of LTC4.[3]

Relevance

LTC4S is an integral membrane protein that catalyzes the biosynthesis of leukotrienes, which have implications in the mediation of immediate hypersensitivity and inflammatory conditions, such as asthma and allergic rhinitis.[4] The main function of LTC4S is the conjugation of an epoxide intermediate (LTA4) to reduced glutathione to form a proinflammatory mediator, LTC4, a peptidoleukotriene that mediates an inflammatory response characteristic of asthma attacks.[5]

Structural highlights

The biological assembly of Human leukotriene C4 synthase is . [6]. . Water molecules shown as red spheres.

The trimeric human leukotriene C4 synthase in a complex with glutathione sulfonate and palmitic and palmitoleic acids 3hkk

Drag the structure with the mouse to rotate

3D Structures of Leukotriene C4 synthase3D Structures of Leukotriene C4 synthase

Updated on 22-October-2019

2pno, 2uui, 3pcv – hLC4S - human
5hv9 – hLC4S (mutant)
3leo – hLC4S (mutant)+glutathione
3hkk, 2uuh - hLC4S +glutathione
3b29 – hLC4S + dodecyl-β-D-selenomaltoside
4j7t, 4j7y, 4jcz, 4jrz – hLC4S + product analog
4jc7 – hLC4S (mutant) + product analog
6r7d – hLC4S + inhibitor
4nta – mLC4S - mouse
4ntb, 4ntf - mLC4S + glutathione derivative

ReferencesReferences

  1. Lam BK, Penrose JF, Freeman GJ, Austen KF. Expression cloning of a cDNA for human leukotriene C4 synthase, an integral membrane protein conjugating reduced glutathione to leukotriene A4. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1994 Aug 2;91(16):7663-7. PMID:8052639
  2. Penrose JF, Spector J, Baldasaro M, Xu K, Boyce J, Arm JP, Austen KF, Lam BK. Molecular cloning of the gene for human leukotriene C4 synthase. Organization, nucleotide sequence, and chromosomal localization to 5q35. J Biol Chem. 1996 May 10;271(19):11356-61. PMID:8626689
  3. Nicholson DW, Ali A, Klemba MW, Munday NA, Zamboni RJ, Ford-Hutchinson AW. Human leukotriene C4 synthase expression in dimethyl sulfoxide-differentiated U937 cells. J Biol Chem. 1992 Sep 5;267(25):17849-57. PMID:1517222
  4. Welsch DJ, Creely DP, Hauser SD, Mathis KJ, Krivi GG, Isakson PC. Molecular cloning and expression of human leukotriene-C4 synthase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1994 Oct 11;91(21):9745-9. PMID:7937884
  5. Lam BK, Penrose JF, Freeman GJ, Austen KF. Expression cloning of a cDNA for human leukotriene C4 synthase, an integral membrane protein conjugating reduced glutathione to leukotriene A4. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1994 Aug 2;91(16):7663-7. PMID:8052639
  6. Martinez Molina D, Wetterholm A, Kohl A, McCarthy AA, Niegowski D, Ohlson E, Hammarberg T, Eshaghi S, Haeggstrom JZ, Nordlund P. Structural basis for synthesis of inflammatory mediators by human leukotriene C4 synthase. Nature. 2007 Aug 2;448(7153):613-6. Epub 2007 Jul 15. PMID:17632546 doi:10.1038/nature06009


Proteopedia Page Contributors and Editors (what is this?)Proteopedia Page Contributors and Editors (what is this?)

Alexander Berchansky, Michal Harel