Mouse serum paraoxonase-1 lactonase activity is specific for medium-chain length fatty acid lactones

Recent studies suggest that paraoxonase-1 (PON1), complexed with high-density lipoproteins, is the major lactonase in the circulation. Using 5-hydroxy eicosatetraenoate δ-lactone (5-HETEL) as the substrate, we observed lactonase activity in serum from Pon1−/− mice. However, 6–12 carbon fatty acid γ- and δ-lactones were not hydrolyzed in serum from Pon1−/− mice. Serum from both wild-type and Pon1−/− mice contained a lactonase activity towards 5-HETEL and 3-oxo-dodecanoyl-homoserine lactone that was resistant to inactivation by EDTA. This lactonase activity was sensitive to the serine esterase inhibitor phenyl methyl sulfonyl fluoride and co-eluted with carboxylesterase activity by size-exclusion chromatography. Analysis of serum from the Es1e mouse strain, which has a deficiency in the carboxylesterase, ES-1, proved that this activity was due to ES-1. PON1 activity predominated at early time points (30 s), whereas both PON1 and ES-1 contributed equally at later time points (15 min). When both PON1 and ES-1 were inhibited, 5-HETEL was stable in mouse serum. Thus, while long-chain fatty acid lactones are substrates for PON1, they can be hydrolyzed by ES-1 at neutral pH. In contrast, medium-chain length fatty acid lactones are stable in mouse serum in the absence of PON1, suggesting that PON1 plays a specific role in the metabolism of these compounds.

Research Highlights
► Mouse serum contains two lactonase activities, paraoxonase-1 and carboxylesterase, that can hydrolyze 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoate lactone and 3-oxo-C12-homoserine lactone.
► Only the EDTA-sensitive paraoxonase-1 lactonase is detectable in human serum.
► In the absence of lactonase activities, fatty acid lactones are stable in a serum milieu.
► Hydrolysis of medium-chain fatty acid lactones in serum is specific for paraoxonase-1.