Unlocking the Brain's Potential with Omega-3 Fatty Acids.

Researchers at UCLA, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and NIH have developed a zebrafish model to study how the brain acquires essential omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA and ALA, and how they pass through the blood-brain barrier via the lipid transporter Mfsd2a. The study provides images of the structure of zebrafish Mfsd2a, which is similar to its human counterpart, and identifies three compartments in Mfsd2a that suggest distinct steps required to move and flip fatty acids through the transporter. The findings may aid in the design of targeted drug delivery into the brain and central nervous system.