Prostaglandin H₂ (PGH₂), or prostaglandin H2 (PGH2), is a type of

prostaglandin Prostaglandins (PG) are a group of physiology, physiologically active lipid compounds called eicosanoids that have diverse hormone-like effects in animals. Prostaglandins have been found in almost every Tissue (biology), tissue in humans and ot ...

and a precursor for many other biologically significant molecules. It is synthesized from

arachidonic acid Arachidonic acid (AA, sometimes ARA) is a polyunsaturated omega−6 fatty acid 20:4(ω−6), or 20:4(5,8,11,14). It is a precursor in the formation of leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and thromboxanes. Together with omega−3 fatty acids an ...

in a reaction catalyzed by a

cyclooxygenase Cyclooxygenase (COX), officially known as prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase (PTGS), is an enzyme (specifically, a family of isozymes, ) that is responsible for biosynthesis of prostanoids, including thromboxane and prostaglandins such a ...

enzyme. The conversion from

to prostaglandin H₂ is a two-step process. First, COX-1 catalyzes the addition of two free oxygens to form the 1,2-dioxane bridge and a peroxide functional group to form prostaglandin G₂ (PGG₂). Second, COX-2 reduces the peroxide functional group to a

secondary alcohol In chemistry, an alcohol (), is a type of organic compound that carries at least one hydroxyl () functional group bound to a Saturated and unsaturated compounds, saturated carbon atom. Alcohols range from the simple, like methanol and ethanol ...

, forming prostaglandin H₂. Other peroxidases like

hydroquinone Hydroquinone, also known as benzene-1,4-diol or quinol, is an aromatic organic compound that is a type of phenol, a derivative of benzene, having the chemical formula C6H4(OH)2. It has two hydroxyl groups bonded to a benzene ring in a ''para' ...

have been observed to reduce PGG₂ to PGH₂. PGH₂ is unstable at room temperature, with a half life of 90–100 seconds, so it is often converted into a different prostaglandin. It is acted upon by: * prostacyclin synthase to create

prostacyclin Prostacyclin (also called prostaglandin I2 or PGI2) is a prostaglandin member of the eicosanoid family of lipid molecules. It inhibits platelet activation and is also an effective vasodilator. When used as a drug, it is also known as epoprosteno ...

thromboxane-A synthase Thromboxane A synthase 1 (, platelet, cytochrome P450, family 5, subfamily A), also known as TBXAS1, is a cytochrome P450 enzyme that, in humans, is encoded by the ''TBXAS1'' gene. Function This gene encodes a member of the cytochrome P450 sup ...

to create

thromboxane A2 Thromboxane A2 (TXA2) is a type of thromboxane that is produced by activated platelets during hemostasis and has prothrombotic properties: it stimulates activation of new platelets as well as increases platelet aggregation. This is achieved by a ...

and 12-(S)-hydroxy-5Z,8E,10E-heptadecatrienoic acid (HHT) (see

12-Hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid 12-Hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid (also termed 12-HHT, 12(''S'')-hydroxyheptadeca-5''Z'',8''E'',10''E''-trienoic acid, or 12(S)-HHTrE) is a 17 carbon metabolite of the 20 carbon polyunsaturated fatty acid, arachidonic acid. 12-HHT is less ambiguou ...

) * prostaglandin D₂ synthase to create prostaglandin D₂ * prostaglandin E synthase to create prostaglandin E₂ It rearranges non-enzymatically to: * A mixture of 12-(S)-hydroxy-5Z,8E,10E-heptadecatrienoic acid (HHT) and 12-(S)-hydroxy-5Z,8Z,10E-heptadecatrienoic acid (see

12-hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid 12-Hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid (also termed 12-HHT, 12(''S'')-hydroxyheptadeca-5''Z'',8''E'',10''E''-trienoic acid, or 12(S)-HHTrE) is a 17 carbon metabolite of the 20 carbon polyunsaturated fatty acid, arachidonic acid. 12-HHT is less ambiguou ...

) Functions of prostaglandin H₂: * regulating the constriction and dilation of blood vessels * stimulating platelet aggregation **binds to

thromboxane receptor The thromboxane receptor (TP) also known as the prostanoid TP receptor is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''TBXA2R'' gene, The thromboxane receptor is one among the five classes of prostaglandin receptor, prostanoid receptors and was ...

on platelets' cell membranes to trigger platelet migration and adhesion to other platelets. Effects of

aspirin Aspirin () is the genericized trademark for acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to reduce pain, fever, and inflammation, and as an antithrombotic. Specific inflammatory conditions that aspirin is ...

on prostaglandin H₂: * Aspirin has been hypothesized to block the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin

References

Organic peroxides Prostaglandins {{biochemistry-stub