Critical amino acids for the 8(R)-dioxygenase activity of linoleate diol synthase. A comparison with cyclooxygenases

7,8-Linoleate diol synthase (7,8-LDS) of the take-all fungus and cyclooxygenases can be aligned with similar to 24% amino acid identity and both form a tyrosyl radical during catalysis. 7,8-LDS was expressed in insect cells with native 8R-dioxygenase and hydroperoxide isomerase activities. We studied conserved residues of 7,8-LDS, which participate in cyclooxygenases for heme binding (His residues), hydrogen abstraction (Tyr), positioning (Tyr, Trp), and ionic binding of substrates (Arg). Site-directed mutagenesis abolished 8R-dioxygenase activities with exception of the putative distal histidine (His203Gln) and a tyrosine residue important for hydrogen bonding and substrate positioning (Tyr329Phe). The results demonstrate structural similarities between 7,8-LDS and cyclooxygenases. (C) 2008 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.