DHA metabolism: targeting the brain and lipoxygenation

Mol Neurobiol. 2010 Aug;42(1):48-51. doi: 10.1007/s12035-010-8131-7. Epub 2010 Apr 28.

Abstract

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the end-product of the metabolism of omega-3 family fatty acids, is the main polyunsaturated fatty acid of the brain, but its accumulation is incompletely understood. This paper reviews how it could accumulate through specific uptake of DHA-containing lysophosphatidylcholine (LysoPC-DHA). DHA migrates very easily from the sn-2 position of LysoPC, which could be considered as the physiological form of polyunsaturated LysoPC, to the sn-1 position, which is much more stable. An approach preventing migration by acetylating the sn-1 position, while retaining the main physico-chemical properties of the carrier, is described. Also, the double lipoxygenation and bond-isomerization of DHA into 10(S),17(S)-docosahexa-4Z,7Z,11E,13Z,15E,19Z-enoic acid, named PDX, by soybean lipoxygenase is described. As in other E,Z,E conjugated trienes, PDX is shown to inhibit human blood platelet aggregation at submicromolar concentrations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / chemistry
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Lipoxygenase / metabolism*
  • Phosphatidylcholines / chemistry
  • Phosphatidylcholines / metabolism

Substances

  • Phosphatidylcholines
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • Lipoxygenase