Synthesis and function of fatty acids and oxylipins, with a focus on Caenorhabditis elegans

Publication date: Available online 4 February 2020Source: Prostaglandins & Other Lipid MediatorsAuthor(s): N.Z. Mokoena, O.M. Sebolai, J. Albertyn, C.H. PohlAbstractPolyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) exhibit a diverse range of important biological functions in most biological systems. These PUFAs can be oxygenated via enzymatic or free radical-mediated reactions to form bioactive oxygenated lipid mediators termed oxylipins. Eicosanoids are broad class of oxylipins that are transient and locally synthesized signalling molecules, including prostaglandins, leukotrienes, lipoxins and thromboxanes, which mediate various physiological responses, such as inflammation. In addition to arachidonic acid-derived eicosanoids, current developments in lipidomic methodologies have brought attention to vast number of oxylipins produced from other PUFAs, including omega-3. Although, the molecular mechanisms of how PUFAs and oxylipins contribute to majority of the fundamental biological processes are largely unclear, a model organism Caenorhabditis elegans remains a powerful model for exploring lipid metabolism and functions of PUFAs and oxylipins. For instance, the ability of C. elegans to modify fatty acid composition with dietary supplementation and genetic manipulation enables the dissection of the roles of omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs in many biological process that includes aging, reproduction, and neurobiology. However, much remains to be elucidated concerning the roles of oxylipins, but t...
Source: Prostaglandins and Other Lipid Mediators - Category: Lipidology Source Type: research