ABSTRACT
Arachidonic acid (AA), and several other polyunsaturated fatty acids can be converted in animal tissues to several different classes of potent biological effectors, collectively called eicosanoids. They include the classical prostaglandins, thromboxanes, prostacyclins, and leukotrienes. This chapter will be confined to the biosynthesis of the classical prostaglandins — prostaglandins G, H, D, E, and F. Biochemistry of prostacyclin (PGI2), the leukotrienes, and eicosanoids in general is discussed in this volume by (respectively) C. Pace-Asciak, P. Borgeat, and D. L. Smith. As can be seen from Figure 1, the classical prostaglandins all derive from the parent polyunsaturated acid via an endoperoxide intermediate, prostaglandin H (PGH).
