Differential functions of the COX proteins If the only basis for the differences between the COX isoforms was their differential gene expression, then replacingthegeneforCOX-2withthatforCOX-1shouldproduce no noticeable phenotype. However, “knockin” of the COX-1 gene into the COX-2 locus in mice only partially replenishes the deficit in PGI2 synthesis and fails to fully ameliorate defects in reproductive and renal function associated with COX-2 deletion (24). These results clearly indicate that COX-1 and COX-2 are not functionally interchangeable at the protein level. One basis for the results of the COX-1 knockin study may lie in differential coupling between the two COX proteins and downstream synthases. For example, lack of full restoration of PGI2 synthesis by COX-1 knockin may be due to a failure of coupling between COX-1 with PGI synthase. Numerous studies support selective isoform association (25, 26), but much of this work has been done with cells overexpressing the relevant enzymes, and no basis for the differential coupling has been advanced. Therefore, confirmation of this hypothesis awaits further investigation. An alternative explanation for the difference in isoform function may be that COX-2 requires lower concentrations of hydroperoxide for activation than does COX-1 (27). Although thisdifference does not usually affectkinetic parameters measured invitro, withinthe reducingenvironment of the intact cell, it translates into an ability of COX-2 to function at lower AA concentrations than COX-1 (24, 26, 28). The structural and mechanistic bases for the difference in hydroperoxide requirement are not fully understood, but site-directedmutagenesisstudiesindicatethatThr-383,aresidue near the heme in COX-2, is at least partly responsible for its greater hydroperoxide sensitivity (25). A third explanation for the differences in function betweenCOX-1 and COX-2 may liein COX-2ʼswider substrate specificity. For example, COX-2 is capable of metabolizing ester and amide derivatives of AA that are poor substrates for COX-1 (29). Of particular interest are the glyceryl ester and ethanolamide of AA, 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and arachidonoyl ethanolamide, respectively, which are endogenous ligands for the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors (Fig. 2). The products of 2-AG and arachidonoyl ethanolamide metabolism by COX-2 are the glyceryl ester and ethanolamide derivatives of PGH2 (PGH2-G and PGH2-EA, respectively), which are subject to further metabolism by the same enzymes that metabolize PGH2, with the exceptionofthromboxanesynthase.Thus,formationofglyceryl ester or ethanolamide analogs of PGE2, PGF 2a, PGD 2, and PGI2 is possible, depending on the enzymes present in the environment. Prostaglandin gyceryl esters (PG-Gs) are subject to hydrolysis by esterases present in blood and tissues, which confounds efforts to detect them in vivo. Nevertheless, low levels of PG-Gs have been observed in rat paw tissue and in cultures of LPS-pretreated murine resident peritoneal macrophages and RAW264.7 cells stimulated with zymosan and ionomycin, respectively. These results suggest that PG-Gs maybeproduced under physiological orpathophysiological conditions. A growing number of studies suggest a physioCyclooxygenase
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