Journal Article

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids stimulate cell membrane expansion by acting on syntaxin 3

Darios, Frédéric, Davletov, Bazbek

2006

Overview

A neuronal repair kit Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are commonly recommended as dietary supplements, especially during pregnancy and in childhood, as they are thought to support brain development. In a screening assay in growing nerve cells, the small membrane protein syntaxin 3 has now been identified as the target for the action of these essential nutrients. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids activate syntaxin-3 allowing growth of neuronal extensions, an essential process in brain development. This finding raises the prospect of using syntaxin-3 for identification of more potent compounds able to accelerate neuronal repair following injury. Identification of syntaxin 3 as a molecule responsible for the action of the essential nutrients omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Growth of neurite processes from the cell body is the critical step in neuronal development and involves a large increase in cell membrane surface area 1 . Arachidonic-acid-releasing phospholipases are highly enriched in nerve growth cones and have previously been implicated in neurite outgrowth 2 , 3 . Cell membrane expansion is achieved through the fusion of transport organelles with the plasma membrane 4 ; however, the identity of the molecular target of arachidonic acid has remained elusive. Here we show that syntaxin 3 (STX3), a plasma membrane protein, has an important role in the growth of neurites, and also serves as a direct target for omega-6 arachidonic acid. By using syntaxin 3 in a screening assay, we determined that the dietary omega-3 linolenic and docosahexaenoic acids can efficiently substitute for arachidonic acid in activating syntaxin 3. Our findings provide a molecular basis for the previously established action of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in membrane expansion at the growth cones, and represent the first identification of a single effector molecule for these essential nutrients.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing,Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: Animals / Arachidonic Acid - metabolism / Biological and medical sciences / Cell Membrane - drug effects / Cell Membrane - metabolism / Cells / Development. Senescence. Regeneration. Transplantation / Essential nutrients / Fatty acids / Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - metabolism / Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - pharmacology / Fatty Acids, Omega-6 - metabolism / Fatty Acids, Omega-6 - pharmacology / Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology / Growth Cones - drug effects / Humanities and Social Sciences / letter / Membrane Fusion - drug effects / Membranes / multidisciplinary / Nervous system / Neurites - drug effects / Neurons / PC12 Cells / Polyunsaturated fatty acids / Proteins / Qa-SNARE Proteins - metabolism / Rats / Science / Science (multidisciplinary) / SNARE Proteins - metabolism / Surface area / Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs