The structural requirements for inhibition of RBL-1 (rat basophilic leukemia) 5-lipoxygenase by 15-hydroxyeicosa-5,8,11,13-tetraenoic acid (15-HETE, 1) were studied by systematic chemical modifications of the molecule at the hydroxyl and carboxyl groups, the double bonds, and the carboxylate and omega side chains. The most potent inhibitors were analogues that contained a 5,8-cis,cis-diene system and acted as alternate substrates for the enzyme. However, several analogues in which the 5,8-diene had been reduced were also found to inhibit the enzyme. Inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase by 15-hydroxyeicosa-11,13-dienoic acid (15-HEDE) analogues was optimal in compounds that generally contained a free carboxyl group, a carboxylate side chain of nine carbons, an omega side chain of five or six carbons, a cis,trans- or trans,cis-11,13-diene or 11,13-diyne system, and a 15-hydroxyl group. Conversion of 15-HEDE to its 16-membered lactone reduced but did not eliminate 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity. In contrast, a 3- to 10-fold enhancement of activity occurred when 5,15-diHETE (58) or 5-HETE (56) were cyclized to their respective delta-lactones. Molecular modeling of 15-HEDE analogues, modified in the C11-C15 region, showed that inactive analogues protrude into regions in space not occupied by active analogues. These structural studies indicate that multiple regions are important for 5-lipoxygenase inhibition by both 15-HETE and 15-HEDE analogues and that no single region plays a predominant role in inhibition.