Revealing how omega-3 fatty acids are transported into the brain

Background: Brain cells are rich in the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is essential for normal brain growth and function. DHA in the brain comes entirely from the blood. It was not known how DHA crosses the protective blood brain barrier (BBB) to enter the brain.

Aim: The aim of these experiments was to show how DHA crosses the BBB.

Methods: The authors developed a unique mouse model with a brain that is DHA deficient, and used this to undertake a range of experiments.

Results: The authors have shown that:

Conclusion: Mfsd2a is the major transporter of DHA into the brain. Based on the significance of their results, they renamed this molecule the sodium-dependent LPC sympoter1 (NLS1).

Reference: Nguyen LN, Ma D, Shui G, Wong P, Cazenave-Gassiot A, Zhang X, Wenk MR, Goh EL, Silver DL.Mfsd2a is a transporter for the essential omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid. Nature. 2014 May 22; 509 (7501):503-6.

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