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Abstract
Lipid peroxidation is common to all biological systems, appearing in developmentally-regulated
processes and as a response to environmental changes. Products derived from lipid
peroxidation are collectively named oxylipins. Initial lipid peroxidation may either
occur by enzymatic or chemical reactions. An array of alternative reactions further
converting lipid hydroperoxides gives rise to a large variety of oxylipin classes,
some with reported signaling functions in plants, fungi, algae or animals. The structural
diversity of oxylipins is further increased by their occurrence either as esters in
complex lipids or as free (non-esterified) fatty acid derivatives. The enzymes involved
in oxylipin metabolism are diverse and comprise a multitude of examples with interesting
and unusual catalytic properties. This review aims at giving an overview on plant,
fungal, algal and bacterial oxylipins and the enzymes responsible for their biosynthesis.