Arachidonic acid is an essential fatty acid and a precursor for all prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes. Virtually all cellular arachidonic acid is esterified in membrane phospholipids where its presence is tightly regulated through multiple interconnected pathways.1 Free arachidonic acid is a transient, critical substrate for the biosynthesis of eicosanoid second messengers. Receptor-stimulated release, metabolism, and re-uptake of free arachidonate are all important aspects of cell signaling and inflammation.2
1
Nixon, A.B., Greene, D.G., and Wykle, R.L. Comparison of acceptor and donor substrates in the CoA-independent transacylase reaction in human neutrophils. Biochim Biophys Acta 1300 187-196 (1996).
2
Burgoyne, R.D., and Morgan, A. The control of free arachidonic acid levels. Trends Biochem Sci 15 365-366 (1990).
Chevy, F., Wolf, C., and Colard, O. A unique pool of free arachionate serves as substrate for both cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase in platelets. Lipids 26 1080-1085 (1991).
Habenicht, A.J.R., Salbach, P., Goerig, M., et al. The LDL receptor pathway delivers arachidonic acid for eicosanoid formation in cells stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor. Nature 345 634-636 (1990).
Lister, M.D., Deems, R.A., Watanabe, Y., et al. Kinetic analysis of the Ca2+-dependent, membrane-bound, macrophage phospholipase A2 and the effects of arachidonic acid. J Biol Chem 263 7506-7513 (1988).
Burgoyne, R.D., and Morgan, A. The control of free arachidonic acid levels. Trends Biochem Sci 15 365-366 (1990).
Nixon, A.B., Greene, D.G., and Wykle, R.L. Comparison of acceptor and donor substrates in the CoA-independent transacylase reaction in human neutrophils. Biochim Biophys Acta 1300 187-196 (1996).
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