Stimulation of human platelet guanylate cyclase by unsaturated fatty acid peroxides.

Guanylate cyclase [GTP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.2] activity of human platelet homogenates was stimulated by the addition of phospholipase A2 or unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic, vaccenic, linoleic, linolenic, eicosenoic, eicosadienoic, and arachidonic acids. The addition of lipoxidase potentiated the fatty acid-induced stimulation of guanylate cyclase purified by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. The extent of the stimulation was dependent on the concentration of the oxidized form of these fatty acids (peroxides). Saturated fatty acids such as stearic and arachidic acids had no effect on the guanylate cyclase activity in the presence or absence of lipoxidase, indicating that human plateletguanylate cyclase is stimulated by unsaturated fatty acid peroxides rather than by fatty acids. Hemoglobin prevented the enzyme stimulation produced by low concentrations of fatty acid peroxides, but enhanced stimulation of the enzyme activity with high concentrations of fatty acid peroxides. 2-Mercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol, and N-ethylmaleimide inhibited the guanylate cyclase activities both in the presence and absence of unsaturated fatty acidperoxide. The stimulation of guanylate cyclase activity by unsaturated fatty acid peroxidesis attributed to oxidation of sulfhydryl residues of the enzyme protein.