Mfsd2a is a transporter for the essential omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 509; no. 7501; pp. 503 - 506
• Main Authors: Nguyen, Long N., Ma, Dongliang, Shui, Guanghou, Wong, Peiyan, Cazenave-Gassiot, Amaury, Zhang, Xiaodong, Wenk, Markus R., Goh, Eyleen L. K., Silver, David L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 22.05.2014; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 13; 13/1; 13/106; 14/19; 631/45/287/1194; 64; 64/60; Animal cognition; Animals; Anxiety; Anxiety - physiopathology; Biological Transport; Blood-brain barrier; Blood-Brain Barrier - metabolism; Brain - metabolism; Brain - pathology; Brain - physiopathology; Carrier proteins; Cognition Disorders - pathology; Cognition Disorders - physiopathology; Cognitive ability; Docosahexaenoic Acids - deficiency; Docosahexaenoic Acids - metabolism; Endothelium; Endothelium, Vascular - metabolism; Fatty acids; Female; Humanities and Social Sciences; letter; Lysophosphatidylcholines - chemistry; Lysophosphatidylcholines - metabolism; Male; Membrane proteins; Membrane Transport Proteins - deficiency; Membrane Transport Proteins - genetics; Membrane Transport Proteins - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Microcephaly - metabolism; Microcephaly - pathology; Microvessels - metabolism; multidisciplinary; Neurons - metabolism; Neurons - pathology; Omega-3 fatty acids; Organ Size; Physiological aspects; Plasma; Rodents; Science; Sodium - metabolism; Statistical analysis; Singapore

Mfsd2a is the major transporter of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) into brain, with Mfsd2a -knockout mice showing reduced DHA in brain, neuronal cell loss in hippocampus and cerebellum, behavioural disorders and reduced brain size; DHA is transported in a sodium-dependent manner, i...