Researchers at UCLA, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and NIH have established a zebrafish model to investigate the transport of omega-3 fatty acids, specifically docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Their findings, published in Nature Communications, enhance our understanding of lipid transport mechanisms and may facilitate targeted drug delivery to the brain, which is crucial for treating neurological conditions and developmental disorders.
Omega-3 fatty acids are vital as they cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained through diet. The study highlights the role of the lipid transporter Mfsd2a in ferrying these essential fatty acids across the BBB, which is necessary for brain development and function. Using advanced imaging techniques, researchers revealed the structure of zebrafish Mfsd2a and identified distinct compartments that facilitate the transport process.
These insights not only clarify how DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids traverse the BBB but also lay the groundwork for designing drugs that utilize this pathway, potentially improving therapeutic approaches for conditions linked to DHA deficiencies. The study was led by Tamir Gonen and Doreen Matthies and supported by multiple NIH institutes.
