Journal
NATURE
Volume 440, Issue 7085, Pages 813-817Publisher
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
DOI: 10.1038/nature04598
Keywords
-
Categories
Funding
- Medical Research Council [MC_U105178791] Funding Source: Medline
- Medical Research Council [MC_U105178791] Funding Source: researchfish
- MRC [MC_U105178791] Funding Source: UKRI
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Growth of neurite processes from the cell body is the critical step in neuronal development and involves a large increase in cell membrane surface area(1). Arachidonic-acid-releasing phospholipases are highly enriched in nerve growth cones and have previously been implicated in neurite outgrowth(2,3). Cell membrane expansion is achieved through the fusion of transport organelles with the plasma membrane(4); however, the identity of the molecular target of arachidonic acid has remained elusive. Here we show that syntaxin 3 (STX3), a plasma membrane protein, has an important role in the growth of neurites, and also serves as a direct target for omega-6 arachidonic acid. By using syntaxin 3 in a screening assay, we determined that the dietary omega-3 linolenic and docosahexaenoic acids can efficiently substitute for arachidonic acid in activating syntaxin 3. Our findings provide a molecular basis for the previously established action of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in membrane expansion at the growth cones, and represent the first identification of a single effector molecule for these essential nutrients.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available