Oxylipins: Role in Stem Cell Biology
Abstract
Oxylipins, oxygenated fatty acid derivatives, are well-established stress mediators acting in auto- and paracrine fashion. The most studied branch of oxylipins, eicosanoids, are produced from twenty carbon polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). In vertebrates they are synthesized mainly by lipoxygenase (LOX), cyclooxygenase (COX) and cytochrome P450-type monooxygenases. In corals, besides COX and LOX enzymes, the oxidation of arachidonic acid (AA) is catalyzed by natural fusion proteins, comprised of a LOX domain and a catalase related peroxidase domain, allene oxide synthase (AOS) or hydroperoxide lyase (HPL). Although oxylipins are well studied in vertebrate stem cells, their role in stem cells originating from marine invertebrates remains unexplored. Here, we present an overview of major oxylipin pathways in vertebrates and marine invertebrates, and discuss their potential role in invertebrate stem cells.
