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Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Enzymatic Synthesis of Epoxidized Metabolites of Docosahexaenoic, Eicosapentaenoic, and Arachidonic Acids
Published on: June 28, 2019
Metabolism and functions of docosahexaenoic acid-containing membrane glycerophospholipids
Daisuke Hishikawa1, William J Valentine1, Yoshiko Iizuka-Hishikawa1
1Department of Lipid Signaling, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract:
Omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids (FAs) such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are known to have important roles in human health and disease. Besides being utilized as fuel, ω-3 FAs have specific functions based on their structural characteristics. These functions include serving as ligands for several receptors, precursors of lipid mediators, and components of membrane glycerophospholipids (GPLs). Since ω-3 FAs (especially DHA) are highly flexible, the levels of DHA in GPLs may affect membrane biophysical properties such as fluidity, flexibility, and thickness. Here, we summarize some of the cellular mechanisms for incorporating DHA into membrane GPLs and propose biological effects and functions of DHA-containing membranes of several cell and tissue types.
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