Cyclooxygenase-3

Cyclooxygenase-3 (COX-3) is an enzyme that is encoded by the PTGS1 (COX1) gene, but is not functional in humans. COX-3 is the third and most recently discovered cyclooxygenase (COX3050) isozyme, while the first two to be discovered were COX-1 and COX-2. The COX-3 isozyme is encoded by the same gene as COX-1, with the difference that COX-3 retains an intron that is not retained in COX-1.

The other two cyclooxygenase isozymes are known to convert dihomo-γ-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid into prostaglandins, and are the targets of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).