Specialization in membrane structure and metabolism with respect to polyunsaturated lipids.

The principal features of the hypotheses presented here are presented in a model (Figure 8). Polyunsaturated phospholipids are preferentially localized on the cytosolic leaflet of the plasma membrane and around proteins. They influence the physical state of these microenvironments and thereby help to regulate cellular functions. Losses of these species due to phospholipase attack, dietary deprivation or other pathological stimuli (such as alcohol), may lead to drastic alterations in some of these functions. The PUFA's released, including 22:6 omega 3, can be metabolised by a lipoxygenase enzyme in the brain and platelet and the products formed are biologically active.