Action of imidazole derivatives on oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids by soybean lipoxygenase

Abstract

The effects of imidazole derivatives on the oxidation of linoleic (or arachidonic) acid by soybean lipoxygenase was studied. Carbimazole (at the concentrations employed) was found to have an effect on the reaction. The initial reaction velocity, the maximum velocity and the affinity constant were all modified. These results suggest that carbimazole exerts actions both on the affinity of the enzyme for the substrate and on the final product of the reaction. Carbimazole has the highest electron donating potential and, at the doses used, was the most active of the three compounds tested. The other derivatives were found to have similar but much slower actions on enzyme activity. Such compounds, which are often used in thyroid disorders, could also act on polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism and so could provoke secondary effects.