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From: werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner)
Newsgroups: net.bio,net.misc
Subject: Re: Re: Does aspirin inhibit oxidative phosphorylation?
Message-ID: <2174@aecom.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 10-Jan-86 00:59:21 EST
Article-I.D.: aecom.2174
Posted: Fri Jan 10 00:59:21 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 11-Jan-86 06:00:34 EST
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Xref: linus net.bio:199 net.misc:7723

> 	The major pharmacological action of aspirin is inhibition of various
> prostagladins, resulting in:

	Actually the direct action of Aspirin is two-fold. For the first 15
minutes, it is Acetysalicylic Acid and it irreversibly inhibits an enzyme called
Cyclooxygenase - the first step in Prostaglandin synthesis.  For the rest of
the time it is in the body as Salicylic Acid, and it inhibits the 2nd step
on the pathway to Leukotrienes (which are involved in imflammation).  As it
turns out, the built up precursor continues to inhibit cyclooxygenase and
prevent prostaglandin production.
	This dual action, incidentally, is why Aspirin, unlike Tylenol, is
both an analgesic and an anti-imflammatory, and the irreversible part (in
platelets) is why one Aspirin a day can prevent 2nd heart attacks. (Data is
not in for 1st ones yet.) 

	The end effects have been previously described by Lippman

-- 

				Craig Werner
				!philabs!aecom!werner
                  "...if that's the hand you use, well, nevermind..."