Formation of (2E)-4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal and (2E)-4-Hydroxy-2-hexenal by Plant Enzymes: A Review Suggests a Role in the Physiology of Plants

It is demonstrated that (3Z)-nonenal (NON) and (3Z)-hexenal (HEX) are oxidized in a cascade by lipoxygenase (LOX) and hydroperoxide peroxygenase (HP peroxygenase) into (2E)-4-hydroxy-2- nonenal (HNE) and (2E)-4-hydroxy-2-hexenal (HHE), respectively. In turn, HNE inactivates LOX terminating the cascade. The hydroxy-alkenals produced serve to inhibit plant pathogens, which initiated the cascade. In addition to LOX, other unknown oxygenases may be involved in the cascade.