Acetylenic inhibitors of sheep vesicular gland oxygenase

Abstract

Biosynthesis of prostaglandins could be stopped by several acetylenic acids. They interfered with the oxygenase activity of the sheep vesicular gland enzymic system in two distinct patterns: an instantaneous, concentration-dependent effect and a time-dependent, destructive effect. Constants for both effects are reported. No measurable oxygen consumption was observed with the acetylenic analogs. Nevertheless, both oxygen and hydroperoxide were required for the inhibition to occur, whereas the inhibitory action could be blocked by the presence of diethyldithiocarbamic acid. The results support the concept of a highly reactive intermediate in the mechanism of oxygenase action.