Human prostaglandin (PG) E synthase (EC 5.3.99.3) is a member of a recently recognized protein superfamily consisting of membrane associated proteins involved in eicosanoid and glutathione metabolism (the MAPEG family). Previous designations of the protein are PIG12 and MGST1-L1. PGE synthase was expressed in Escherichia coli, and both cytosolic and membrane fractions were prepared. Western blot analysis specifically detected a 15-to 16-kDa protein in the membrane fraction. Both fractions were incubated with prostaglandin H 2 in the presence or absence of reduced glutathione. The membrane but not the cytosolic fraction was found to possess high glutathione-dependent PGE synthase activity (0.25 mol͞ min͞mg). The human tissue distribution was analyzed by Northern blot analysis. High expression of PGE synthase mRNA was detected in A549 and HeLa cancer cell lines. Intermediate level of expression was demonstrated in placenta, prostate, testis, mammary gland, and bladder whereas low mRNA expression was observed in several other tissues. A549 cells have been used as a model system to study cyclooxygenase-2 induction by IL-1␤. If A549 cells were grown in the presence of IL-1␤, a significant induction of the PGE synthase was observed by Western blot analysis. Also, Western blot analysis specifically detected a 16-kDa protein in sheep seminal vesicles. In summary, we have identified a human membrane bound PGE synthase. The enzyme activity is glutathione-dependent, and the protein expression is induced by the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1␤. PGE synthase is a potential novel target for drug development.Prostaglandin endoperoxide H 2 (PGH 2 ) is formed from arachidonic acid by the action of cyclooxygenases (cox) -1 or -2. cox-1 is constitutively expressed in many cells and tissues such as platelets, endothelium, stomach, and kidney whereas the cox-2 protein can be induced by proinflammatory cytokines like IL-1␤ at sites of inflammation (for recent reviews on cox see refs. 1-3). Downstream of the cyclooxygenases, the product PGH 2 can be further metabolized into the various physiologically important eicosanoids: e.g., PGF 2␣ , PGE 2 , PGD 2 , PGI 2 (prostacyclin), and thromboxane A 2 (4).The mechanism for the biosynthesis of PGE 1 and PGF 1␣ (formed by using dihomo-␥-linolenic acid instead of arachidonic acid) (5) by sheep vesicular glands was postulated to proceed via a cyclic endoperoxide (6) later designated PGH 2 (7-9). In short, the reactions catalyzed by cyclooxygenase start by stereospecific abstraction of a hydrogen atom from carbon 13 of arachidonic acid. The resulting carbon radical reacts with molecular oxygen followed by the formation of the 9,11-endoperoxide and the bond between C-8 and C-12. Thereafter, a second molecule of oxygen is incorporated at C-15 followed by reduction to a hydroperoxy group, and PGG 2 is formed. This hydroperoxy group can subsequently be reduced by the peroxidase activity of the cyclooxygenase (in the presence of a reducing agent: e.g., glutathione) thus forming PGH 2 . The enzy...

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Prostaglandins (PG) are bioactive lipids produced from arachidonic acid via the action of cyclooxygenases and terminal PG synthases. Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase 1 (MPGES1) constitutes an inducible glutathione-dependent integral membrane protein that catalyzes the oxidoreduction of cyclooxygenase derived PGH 2 into PGE2. MPGES1 has been implicated in a number of human diseases or pathological conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, fever, and pain, and is therefore regarded as a primary target for development of novel antiinflammatory drugs. To provide a structural basis for insight in the catalytic mechanism, we determined the structure of MPGES1 in complex with glutathione by electron crystallography from 2D crystals induced in the presence of phospholipids. Together with results from site-directed mutagenesis and activity measurements, we can thereby demonstrate the role of specific amino acid residues. Glutathione is found to bind in a U-shaped conformation at the interface between subunits in the protein trimer. It is exposed to a site facing the lipid bilayer, which forms the specific environment for the oxidoreduction of PGH 2 to PGE 2 after displacement of the cytoplasmic half of the N-terminal transmembrane helix. Hence, insight into the dynamic behavior of MPGES1 and homologous membrane proteins in inflammation and detoxification is provided.electron crystallography ͉ inflammation ͉ MAPEG ͉ membrane protein M icrosomal prostaglandin E synthase 1 (MPGES1) is the key enzyme in pathology related production of PGE 2 from cyclooxygenase (Cox) derived PGH 2 (1). The protein is a member of the MAPEG protein family, which includes 5-lipoxygenase activating protein (FLAP), leukotriene C 4 synthase (LTC4S), microsomal glutathione transferase (MGST)1, MGST2, and MGST3 (2, 3). MPGES1 is the most efficient PGES known and catalyzes the oxidoreduction of prostaglandin endoperoxide H 2 into PGE 2 with an apparent k cat /K m of 310 mM Ϫ1 s Ϫ1 [supporting information (SI) Fig. S1]. The enzyme equally well catalyses the oxidoreduction of endocannabinoids into prostaglandin glycerol esters (4) and PGG 2 into 15-hydroperoxy-PGE 2 (5). In addition, the enzyme confers low glutathione transferase and glutathione-dependent peroxidase activities (5). The biological significance of the latter activities remains unclear but is thought to reflect the close evolutionary distance to MGST1.MPGES1 protein expression levels are in most cases low, and proinflammatory stimuli induce its cellular expression and activity, which is prevented by corticosteroids (1, 6-8). The predominant source of PGH 2 seems derived from Cox-2, although Cox-1 may also contribute (9). Studies, mainly from disruption of the MPGES1 gene in mice, indicate key roles for MPGES1-generated PGE 2 in pathological conditions such as chronic inflammation, pain, fever, anorexia, atherosclerosis, stroke and tumorigenesis (10). Recently, a role for MPGES1 in regulating neonatal respiration was described in ref. 11. MPGES1 has been shown to be overexpressed in rheu...