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In enzymology, a prostaglandin-F synthase (PGFS; EC 1.1.1.188) is an enzyme that catalyzes the chemical reaction:

(5Z,13E)-(15S)-9alpha,11alpha,15-trihydroxyprosta-5,13-dienoate + NADP⁺ (5Z,13E)-(15S)-9alpha,15-dihydroxy-11-oxoprosta-5,13-dienoate + NADPH + H⁺

Thus, the two products of this enzyme are 9α,11β–PGF₂ and NADP⁺, whereas its three substrates are Prostaglandin D2, NADPH, and H⁺.

PGFS is a monomeric wild-type protein that was first purified from bovine lung (PDB ID: 2F38).^[1] This enzyme belongs to the family of aldo-keto reductase (AKR) based on its high substrate specificity, its high molecular weight (38055.48 Da) and amino acid sequence.^[2] In addition, it is categorized as C3 (AKR1C3) because it is an isoform of 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.^[3]

The function of PGFS is to catalyze the reduction of aldehydes and ketones to their corresponding alcohols. In humans, these reactions take place mostly in the lungs and in the liver.^[4] More specifically, PGFS catalyzes the reduction of PGD₂ to 9α,11β–PGF₂ and PGH₂ to PGF2α by using NADPH as cofactor.^[2]

This enzyme belongs to the family of oxidoreductases, specifically those acting on the CH-OH group of donor with NAD⁺ or NADP⁺ as acceptor. The systematic name of this enzyme class is (5Z,13E)-(15S)-9alpha,11alpha,15-trihydroxyprosta-5,13-dienoate:NADP⁺ 11-oxidoreductase.

Other names in common use include prostaglandin-D₂ 11-reductase, reductase, 15-hydroxy-11-oxoprostaglandin, PGD₂ 11-ketoreductase, PGF_2α synthetase, prostaglandin 11-ketoreductase, prostaglandin D₂-ketoreductase, prostaglandin F synthase, prostaglandin F synthetase, synthetase, prostaglandin F_2α, prostaglandin-D₂ 11-reductase, PGF synthetase, NADPH-dependent prostaglandin D₂ 11-keto reductase, and prostaglandin 11-keto reductase. This enzyme participates in arachidonic acid metabolism.

As of late 2007, 7 structures have been solved for this class of enzymes, with PDB accession codes 1RY0, 1RY8, 1VBJ, 1XF0, 1ZQ5, 2F38, and 2FGB.

The primary structure of prostaglandin F synthase consists of 323 amino acid residues.^[5] The secondary structure consists of 17 α-helices which contain 130 residues and 18 β-strands which contain 55 residues as well as many random coils. The tertiary structure is a single subunit.^[2]

The active site of the enzyme is referred to as an (α/β)₈ barrel because it consists of 8 α-helices and 8 β-strands. More specifically, the eight α-helices surround the eight β-strands which form the cylindrical core of the active site.^[2] In addition, the active site of the enzyme contains also three random coils which help to connect the helices and strands together.^[6] The size of the active site of the enzyme is large enough not only to bind NADPH cofactor but also to bind the substrates PGD₂ or PGH₂.^[3]

In order for the PGFS enzyme to catalyze the reduction of the substrates PGH₂ or PGD₂, the cofactor NADPH must be present in the active site. This cofactor is present deep within the cavity of the enzyme and forms a hydrogen bond with it, whereas the substrate is located closer to the mouth of the cavity which limits its interaction with PGFS. The rate determining step of the catalysis is the binding of NADPH cofactor in the active site of the enzyme. This is because the binding of NADPH occurs before the binding of the substrate. NADPH is an important cofactor because it is involved in the hydride transfer which is necessary for the reduction to take place.^[3]

More specifically, in order for the hydride transfer to occur, the substrate (PGD₂) has to bind to the active site of the enzyme PGFS. The substrate binds to the active site through hydrogen bonding between the carbonyl group of PGD₂ and the hydroxyl group of tyrosine (Y55) as well as one of the imidazole nitrogen of histidine (H117). The hydride shift from NADPH reduces the carbonyl group of PGD₂ and forms a new sp³ hydroxyl group (9α,11β–PGF₂).^[3]

The protonation of the carbonyl oxygen is facilitated at low pH when histidine is used and at high pH when tyrosine is used for hydrogen bonding with the substrate. On the one hand, histidine is an ideal proton donor at low pH because of its pKa value (6.00), which means that it is protonated at a pH below 6.00. On the other hand, tyrosine is an ideal proton donor at higher pH because of its pKa value (10.1). The type of amino acid that is used for protonation depends on the substrate. For example, reduction of PGD₂ in the human body occurs at a pH range of 6-9, which makes histidine an ideal proton donor.^[3]

The hydride that is transferred to the carbonyl oxygen of PGD₂ causes weakening of the hydrogen bond between the substrate and the enzyme. This has as a result the cleavage of the product (9α,11β–PGF2) from the active site of the enzyme.^[3]

In general, prostaglandins are molecules that are used for inflammation, muscle contraction and blood clotting.^[3] Prostaglandin F synthase (PGFS) is very important enzyme because it catalyzes the formation of 9α,11β–PGF₂ and PGF2α which are critical for the contraction of bronchial, vascular and arterial smooth muscle.^[2]

Also, this enzyme can be used in cancer research. Recent studies have shown that there is a correlation between high levels of PGFS in gastrointestinal tumors and the effectiveness of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). The inhibition of PGFS by NSAID could turn out to be a very important medicinal field in the development of anti-cancer medication.^[6]    

Prostaglandin F synthase can be inhibited not only by NSAIDs such as indometacin and suprofen but also by a molecule known as bimatoprost (BMP). BMP, an analogue of PGD₂ is an ocular hypotensive agent that binds to the active site of the PGFS enzyme. This means that it inhibits the action of PGFS to catalyze the conversion of PGD₂ to 9α,11β–PGF₂ and PGH₂ to PGF2α because it inhibits the substrate to bind to the active site of the enzyme.^[6]