Very-long-chain fatty acids are crucial to neuronal polarity by providing sphingolipids to lipid rafts

Fatty acids have long been considered essential to brain development; however, the involvement of their synthesis in nervous system formation is unclear. We generate mice with knockout of GPSN2, an enzyme for synthesis of very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) and investigate the effects. Both GPSN2-'- and GPSN2+'- mice show abnormal neuronal networks as a result of impaired neuronal polarity determination. Lipidomics of GPSN2-'- embryos reveal that ceramide synthesis is specifically inhibited depending on FA length; namely, VLCFA-containing ceramide is reduced. We demonstrate that lipid rafts are highly enriched in growth cones and that GPSN2+'- neurons lose gangliosides in their membranes. Application of C24:0 ceramide, but not C16:0 ceramide or C24:0 phosphatidylcholine, to GPSN2+'- neurons rescues both neuronal polarity determination and lipid-raft density in the growth cone. Taken together, our results indicate that VLCFA synthesis contributes to physiological neuronal development in brain network formation, in particular neuronal polarity determination through the formation of lipid rafts.

Automated summary

This study reveals the importance of synthesizing very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) in brain development and neuronal polarity determination. Knockout mice of the GPSN2 enzyme, responsible for VLCFA synthesis, showed abnormal neuronal networks. The study also identified specific changes in lipid synthesis and the role of lipid rafts in neuronal development.