Characterization of lipoxygenase from fungi of the genus Mortierella

The specific activity of lipoxygenase from several strains of the zygomycete Mortierella varied from 1.02 to 2.02 mu mol diene per min per mg protein. The enzyme equally used linoleic or arachidonic acid as a substrate. An increase in lipoxygenase activity was observed after adding corn oil to the culture medium. Tests with inhibitors having different chemical structures revealed that the lipoxygenase activity from Mortierella cells was inhibited only by esculetin, ethanol, and nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA). NDGA inhibited the enzyme in vitro (IC50 =142 muM), but its addition in the exponential phase of growth activated the enzyme.