Final answer:
Prostaglandins and leukotrienes are 20-carbon chains known as eicosanoids. They function as local-acting signaling molecules involved in regulating vital body processes like inflammation and blood pressure regulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Prostaglandins and leukotrienes are 20-carbon chains formed from arachidonic acid. They belong to a group of local-acting molecules called eicosanoids.
Prostaglandins are derived from unsaturated fatty acids and are important in regulating several body processes such as blood pressure, inflammation, and gastric secretions.
These lipid compounds are produced in nearly all mammalian tissues and they act like hormones, with activities that are usually short-lived and produced locally where they perform their function. These compounds have a unique structure, which includes a five-membered ring within their 20 carbon fatty acid chains.
As signaling molecules, prostaglandins are synthesized from polyunsaturated fatty acids like arachidonic acid through enzymes such as cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2). They are involved in various physiological activities and their synthesis is crucial for the body's response to injury and inflammation.
They are blocked by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, which inhibit the synthesis of prostaglandins to provide pain relief.