Biocatalytic synthesis of dihydroxy fatty acids as lipid mediators from polyunsaturated fatty acids by double dioxygenation of the microbial 12S‐lipoxygenase

Leukotrienes (LTs) and maresins (MaRs) are human lipid mediators (LMs) involved in immune response and anti‐inflammation, respectively. These compounds and their isomers are generated in trace amounts by lipoxygenases (LOXs) in human macrophages and neutrophils. These LMs have been synthesized using nonenvironmentally benign synthetic protocols, which are expensive. 8S‐ and 15S‐LOXs with double dioxygenating activities have previously been reported, whereas 12S‐LOX with double dioxygenating activity have not been reported to date. Here, we discovered a wild‐type 12S‐LOX with double dioxygenating activity from the bacterium Endozoicomonas numazuensis, which produced dihydroxy fatty acids (DiHFAs) as LMs from polyunsaturated fatty acids via double dioxygenation. The enzyme activity for producing DiHFA was approximately 550‐fold higher than that of mammalian LOX with double dioxygenating activity. The microbial 12S‐LOX converted 3.00 mM of arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid to 2.37 mM (797 mg/L) 6‐trans‐8‐cis‐12S‐epimer of LTB4, 1.59 mM (532 mg/L) 6‐trans‐8‐cis‐12S‐epimer of LTB5, 1.35 mM (498 mg/L) 10‐cis‐12‐trans‐7S‐epimer of MaR1n‐3 DPA, and 1.54 mM (555 mg/L) 10‐cis‐12‐trans‐7S‐epimer of MaR1 within 2 h, which were 5.3‐, 7.6‐, 3.1‐, and 5.5‐fold higher than those biosynthesized by the previously reported microbial engineered 12S‐LOX with double dioxygenating activity, respectively. These findings contribute to the efficient and environmentally friendly biosynthesis of LMs and stimulate physiological study on LMs. Biotransformation pathway from polyunsaturated fatty acids into dihydroxy fatty acids as lipid mediators by E. coli expressing 12S‐lipoxygenase with double dioxygenating activity. The discovered 12S‐lipoxygenase with double dioxygenating activity from the bacterium Endozoicomonas numazuensis was the most efficient for the production of 5S,12S‐dihydroxy fatty acids as lipid mediator from C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids or 7S,14S‐dihydroxy fatty acids from C22 polyunsaturated fatty acids.