The metabolism of (n-3) and (n-6) fatty acids and their oxygenation by platelet cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase.

Arachidonic acid is the principal unsaturated acid in most membrane lipids. Membrane lipids also contain a variety of other (n-6) and (n-3) fatty acids. The amounts of (n-6) and (n-3) fatty acids in membrane lipids can be modified by dietary fat change. Our studies show that long chain (n-6) and (n-3) acids are metabolized by platelet lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase. When cells are exposed to various agonists, a variety of unsaturated fatty acids may be released. Our studies show that they have the potential of modifying physiological function both by mediating arachidonic acid metabolism and as direct precursors for oxygenated metabolites which themselves may interact with specific receptors to regulate biological processes.