Abstract
Novel Metabolism of Docosahexaenoic Acid in Neural Cells
Highlights
Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are highly enriched in the nervous system
Accretion of docosahexaenoic acid (4,7,10,13,16,19-22:6) in the central nervous system actively occurs during the developmental period, primarily relying on circulating plasma DHA derived from diet or from biosynthesis in the liver (2)
Polyunsaturated fatty acids released from neural cell membrane phospholipids can be oxygenated through cyclooxygenation, lipoxygenation, and cytochrome P450-dependent pss1 and pss2 genes, which encode PS synthase1 (PSS1) and PS synthase2 (PSS2) enzymes, monooxygenation, and many of these products subsequently respectively, affects neither the PSS enzyme level nor the DHA- participate in the signal transduction processes (43)
Summary
From the Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9410. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids are highly enriched in the nervous system. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA2; 22:6n-3), in particular, is the most abundant polyunsaturated fatty acid in the brain and is concentrated in aminophospholipids of cell membranes. Numerous studies have indicated that this concentration of DHA in the nervous system is essential for optimal neuronal and retinal functions (1). The underlying mechanisms of its essential function are still not clearly understood, emerging evidence suggests that unique metabolism of DHA in relation to its incorporation into neuronal membrane phospholipids plays an important role. Biochemical mechanisms for enriching and metabolizing DHA in neural cells are discussed in the context of their biological significance in neuronal function
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