Description
This gene encodes a member of the lipoxygenase family of proteins. The encoded enzyme acts on different polyunsaturated fatty acid substrates to generate bioactive lipid mediators including eicosanoids and lipoxins. The encoded enzyme and its reaction products have been shown to regulate platelet function. Elevated expression of this gene has been observed in pancreatic islets derived from human diabetes patients. Allelic variants in this gene may be associated with susceptibility to toxoplasmosis. Multiple pseudogenes of this gene have been identified in the human genome.