Algae: Critical Sources of Very Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids
School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
Biomolecules 2019, 9(11), 708; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9110708
Received: 10 October 2019 / Revised: 29 October 2019 / Accepted: 4 November 2019 / Published: 6 November 2019
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lipids of Marine Algae)
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are divided into n-3 and n-6 classes, are essential for good health in humans and many animals. They are metabolised to lipid mediators, such as eicosanoids, resolvins and protectins. Increasing interest has been paid to the 20 or 22 carbon very long chain PUFAs, since these compounds can be used to form lipid mediators and, thus, avoid inefficient formation of dietary plant PUFAs. The ultimate sources of very long chain PUFAs are algae, which are consumed by fish and then by humans. In this review, I describe the biosynthesis of very long chain PUFAs by algae and how this synthesis can be manipulated for commercial purposes. Ultimately, the production of algal oils is critical for ecosystems worldwide, as well as for human dietary lipids.
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Keywords:
essential fatty acids; human requirement; eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA); docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); fish lipids; algal lipid synthesis
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MDPI and ACS Style
Harwood, J.L. Algae: Critical Sources of Very Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids. Biomolecules 2019, 9, 708. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9110708
AMA Style
Harwood JL. Algae: Critical Sources of Very Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids. Biomolecules. 2019; 9(11):708. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9110708
Chicago/Turabian StyleHarwood, John L. 2019. "Algae: Critical Sources of Very Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids" Biomolecules 9, no. 11: 708. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9110708
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