Manganese lipoxygenase (Mn-LOX) catalyzes the rearrangement of bis-allylic S-hydroperoxides to allylic Rhydroperoxides, but little is known about the reaction mechanism. 1-Linoleoyl-lysoglycerophosphatidylcholine was oxidized in analogy with 18:2n-6 at the bis-allylic carbon with rearrangement to C-13 at the end of lipoxygenation, suggesting a "tail-first" model. The rearrangement of bisallylic hydroperoxides was influenced by double bond configuration and the chain length of fatty acids. The Gly316Ala mutant changed the position of lipoxygenation toward the carboxyl group of 20:2n-6 and 20:3n-3 and prevented the bis-allylic hydroperoxide of 20:3n-3 but not 20:2n-6 to interact with the catalytic metal. The oxidized form, Mn III -LOX, likely accepts an electron from the bis-allylic hydroperoxide anion with the formation of the peroxyl radical, but rearrangement of 11-hydroperoxyoctadecatrienoic acid by Mn-LOX was not reduced in D 2 O (pD 7.5), and aqueous Fe 31 did not transfer 11S-hydroperoxy-9Z,12Z,15Z-octadecatrienoic acid to allylic hydroperoxides. Mutants in the vicinity of the catalytic metal, Asn466Leu and Ser469Ala, had little influence on bis-allylic hydroperoxide rearrangement. In conclusion, Mn-LOX transforms bis-allylic hydroperoxides to allylic by a reaction likely based on the positioning of the hydroperoxide close to Mn 31 and electron transfer to the metal, with the formation of a bis-allylic peroxyl radical, b-fragmentation, and oxygenation under steric control by the protein.-Oliw, E. H. Factors influencing the rearrangement of bis-allylic hydroperoxides by manganese lipoxygenase. J. Lipid Res. 2008. 49: 420-428.