Description
Product Characteristics: Prostaglandins are a diverse group of autocrine and paracrine hormones that mediate many cellular and physiologic processes. Prostaglandin H2 (PGH2) is an intermediate molecule in formation of the prostaglandins. Cyclooxygenase-1 (Cox-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) are prostaglandin synthases that catalyze the formation of PGH2 from arachidonic acid (AA). Cox-1 and Cox-2 are isozymes of prostaglandin-endoperoxidase synthase (PTGS). Cox-1 is constitutively expressed in most tissues and is thought to serve in general housekeeping functions. Cox-2 is efficiently induced in migratory cells responding to pro-inflammatory stimuli and is considered to be an important mediator of inflammation. Both enzymes are targets for the nonsteroidal therapeutic anti-inflammatory drugs, NSAIDs. COX2 expression is significantly increased in 85-90 % of human colorectal adenocarcinomas whereas levels of COX-1 are not changed.
Target Information: Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase (PTGS), also known as cyclooxygenase, is the key enzyme in prostaglandin biosynthesis, and acts both as a dioxygenase and as a peroxidase. There are two isozymes of PTGS: a constitutive PTGS1 and an inducible PTGS2, which differ in their regulation of expression and tissue distribution. This gene encodes the inducible isozyme. It is regulated by specific stimulatory events, suggesting that it is responsible for the prostanoid biosynthesis involved in inflammation and mitogenesis. [provided by RefSeq, Feb 2009]