The biogeneration of 1-octen-3-ol by lipoxygenase and associated hydroperoxide lyase activities of a homogenate of the cultivated mushroom Agaricus bisporus was investigated using linoleic acid as a substrate. The optimal substrate and protein concentrations were 1.5 mM and 1.5 mg ml(-1), respectively. The V-max value for the enzymic coupled reaction lipoxygenase-hydroperoxide lyase was 6 mug of 1-octen-3-ol ml(-1) min(-1), with a K-m value of 0.3 x 10(-3) M. The highest enzymic activity was observed in the presence of pure oxygen (22.9 mug of 1-octen-3-ol ml(-1)), with a bioconversion yield of 36%. The production of 380 mug 1-octen-3-ol per g of mushroom homogenate was demonstrated using an oxygenated reaction medium of 1-1 containing 0.5% polyvinylpyrrolidone.