Specificity
This antibody recognises 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), also known as arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase, when phosphorylated at serine 523. 5-LO is an enzyme that catalyses the synthesis of leukotrienes (LTs) from arachidonic acid (a polyunsaturated fatty acid), by the insertion of an oxygen into the arachidonic backbone. 5-LO requires calcium, ATP and the 5-LO-activating protein as cofactors for full activity. Leukotrienes are synthesised and secreted by leukocytes in response to immunologic or inflammatory stimuli, such as in asthma and allergic reactions. The biological effects of LTs include leukocyte chemotaxis, pulmonary airway constriction, mucous hypersecretion, vasoconstriction and increased vascular permeability. I recent years 5-LO has also been implicated in the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis and has been found in a broad variety of cancer cells.