Molecular Probes for An Orphan Eicosanoid Pathway

The vast majority of studies on prostanoid metabolism have focused on prostaglandin E2, prostacyclithromboxane A2, and the leukotrienes, which are collectively involved in the regulation of a wide rapathophysiological events. Although it has been the subject of less intense investigation, it has beprostaglandin D2 (PGD2) prevents platelet aggregation, elevates protein synthesis in liver tissue, amastocytosis. In the brain, PGD2 has been reported to regulate sleep, lower body temperature and modluteinizing hormone. PGD2 has also been reported to have cytotoxic, anti-tumoral and anti-metastaticof PGD2 synthase have been reported: a spleen-form which synthesizes PGD2 in several tissues includiliver, stomach, small intestine and colon; and a second form which appears restricted to the brain.molecular probes to detect PGD2 synthase proteins and mRNAs and procedures for commercial productionsynthase enzymes. Availability of these products will facilitate basic, clinical and pharmaceuticalof PGD2 synthase gene expression, development of novel therapeutic agents, as well as for the treatmmastocytosis, sleep disorder, hypothermia and convulsion.