Epoxyeicosatrienoic acid hormones are signaling molecules that act on the cardiovascular and renal systems. They are formed by the epoxidation of essential fatty acids by the enzyme cytochrome P450 epoxygenase.
Recently, a research group at Boston Children鈥檚 Hospital found a new use for one of these compounds, all-cis-11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid. The scientists used聽聽to identify small molecules that can improve the way blood stem cell transplants 鈥渢ake鈥� in the recipient. Because zebrafish are transparent, the color of the treated fish made it easy to see whether a test molecule improved stem cell grafting.
Of the 480 compounds screened, the 11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid was one of several 鈥渉its鈥�. The researchers showed that the hormone also helps stem cell grafting in mice.
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