ALOXE3
ALOXE3 (arachidonate epidermal lipoxygenase 3, also known as eLOX3 or E-LOX) is a non-heme iron-containing lipoxygenase with prominent hydroperoxide isomerase activity. It acts in epidermal lipid metabolism and is required for skin barrier formation. Browse Assay Genie's current range of ALOXE3 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
ALOXE3 is an atypical lipoxygenase. It shows a prominent hydroperoxide isomerase activity and a reduced lipoxygenase activity. As an isomerase, it converts hydroperoxides derived from arachidonic and linoleic acid by ALOX12B into hepoxilin-type epoxyalcohols and ketones. In the presence of oxygen it can also oxygenate polyunsaturated fatty acids, including arachidonic acid, to give fatty acid hydroperoxides. NCBI describes the synthesis of a distinct epoxy alcohol, 8R-hydroxy-11R,12R-epoxyeicosa-5Z,9E,14Z-trienoic acid, from 12R-HPETE.
In the skin, ALOXE3 acts downstream of ALOX12B on the linoleate moiety of esterified omega-hydroxyacyl-sphingosine (EOS) ceramides. It produces an epoxy-ketone derivative, a key step in conjugating omega-hydroxyceramide to membrane proteins. This supports the synthesis of the corneocyte lipid envelope and the establishment of the skin barrier to water loss. Hepoxilin metabolites produced by the enzyme may also have a signalling role in barrier formation, and the epoxy alcohol product can activate the nuclear receptor PPARalpha, which is implicated in epidermal differentiation.
The ALOXE3 gene belongs to the lipoxygenase family and sits in a cluster of lipoxygenase genes on 17p13.1. Multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been reported. Loss of function of the enzyme results in ichthyosis, and mutations in the gene cause nonbullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma (NCIE). Beyond the skin, the enzyme contributes to adipocyte differentiation through hepoxilin A3 and hepoxilin B3, which activate PPARG, and hepoxilin production in the spinal cord may regulate inflammatory tactile allodynia. UniProt reports the protein in the cytoplasm.
ALOXE3 acts downstream of ALOX12B in EOS ceramide processing, supporting the corneocyte lipid envelope and the barrier to water loss.
Loss of function and mutations in the gene cause nonbullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma, making it a focus for studying epidermal differentiation disorders.
Its hydroperoxide isomerase activity generates hepoxilin-type epoxyalcohols and ketones from arachidonic and linoleic acid derivatives.
Hepoxilin A3 and B3 production activates PPARG during adipocyte differentiation, and spinal hepoxilins may regulate inflammatory tactile allodynia.
ALOXE3 is a non-heme iron lipoxygenase that mainly works as a hydroperoxide isomerase. It converts hydroperoxides made by ALOX12B into hepoxilin-type epoxyalcohols and ketones, and in skin it processes EOS ceramides, which supports corneocyte lipid envelope formation and the water barrier.
ALOXE3 is also called eLOX3 or E-LOX, and its previous name was arachidonate lipoxygenase 3. UniProt lists it as hydroperoxide isomerase ALOXE3. HGNC places it in the arachidonate lipoxygenase and hydroperoxy icosatetraenoate dehydratase gene groups, and multiple transcript variants encode different isoforms.
Yes. Loss of ALOXE3 function results in ichthyosis, and mutations cause nonbullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma (NCIE). Orthologues exist in mouse and rat, both named Aloxe3; check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other lipoxygenases, PPAR nuclear receptors and lipid-metabolism targets linked to epidermal differentiation and eicosanoid signalling.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q9BYJ1; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.