Essential fatty acid synthesis and its regulation in mammals

The tissue content of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) such as arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid is maintained in a narrow range by feedback regulation of synthesis. Delta-6 desaturase (D6D) catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step of the HUFA synthesis. Recent identification of a human case of D6D deficiency underscores the importance of this pathway. Sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) is a key transcription factor that activates transcription of genes involved with fatty acid synthesis. We recently identified sterol regulatory element (SRE) that is required for activation of the human D6D gene by SREBP-1c. Moreover, the same SRE also mediates the suppression of the D6D gene by HUFA. The identification of SREBP-1c as a key regulator of D6D suggests that the major physiological function of SREBP-1c in liver may be the regulation of phospholipid synthesis rather than triglyceride synthesis. Peroxisome proliferators (PP) induce fatty acid oxidation enzymes and desaturases in rodent liver. However, the induction of desaturases by PP is slower than the induction of oxidation enzymes. This delayed induction may be a compensatory reaction to the increased demand of HUFA caused by increased HUFA oxidation and peroxisome proliferation in PP administration. Recent studies have demonstrated a critical role of peroxisomal β-oxidation in DHA synthesis, and identified acyl CoA oxidase and D-bifunctional protein as the key enzymes.