Prostaglandin G2 is an organic
peroxide
In chemistry, peroxides are a group of compounds with the structure , where R = any element. The group in a peroxide is called the peroxide group or peroxo group. The nomenclature is somewhat variable.
The most common peroxide is hydrogen p ...
belonging to the family of
prostaglandins
The prostaglandins (PG) are a group of physiologically active lipid compounds called eicosanoids having diverse hormone-like effects in animals. Prostaglandins have been found in almost every tissue in humans and other animals. They are derive ...
.
The compound has been isolated as a solid, although it is usually used in vivo. It quickly converts into
prostaglandin H2, a process catalyzed by the enzyme COX.
Prostaglandin G2 is produced from the
fatty acid
In chemistry, particularly in biochemistry, a fatty acid is a carboxylic acid with an aliphatic chain, which is either saturated or unsaturated. Most naturally occurring fatty acids have an unbranched chain of an even number of carbon atoms, fr ...
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 structurally related to the saturated arachidic acid found in cupuaçu butter. Its name derives from the New Latin word ''arachi ...
. The reaction, an oxygenation, requires the enzyme
cyclooxygenase, which inserts two molecules of O
2 into the C-H bonds of the substrate acid.
References
Prostaglandins
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