A new study reveals how the transporter protein MFSD2A allows omega-3 fatty acids to enter the brain
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerousA new study reveals that the transporter protein MFSD2A acts as a gateway for the access of omega-3 fatty acids to the brain. This discovery could prove to be fundamental in the treatment of neurological diseases.
One of the most difficult challenges to overcome in the treatment of neurological diseases is getting the drugs to cross the blood barrier and reach the brain, as the presence of a very compact layer of cells protects the cerebral blood vessels and prevents toxins, agents pathogens and also some nutrients access to the brain. Unfortunately, this 'protection' also blocks access to numerous drugs that could otherwise be very useful in the treatment of neurological diseases.
Essential nutrients like omega-3s require the assistance of dedicated transporter proteins that recognize them and allow them to cross the barrier - a bit like bouncers, who only let in the molecules they invite, the scholars explain. The transport that allows omega-3 fatty acids to enter the brain is called MFSD2A, and that's what the Columbia University researchers focused on.
We were able to obtain the three-dimensional structure of the transporter protein that offers a gateway to the brain for omega-3 molecules - explains Rosemary J. Cater, author of the study. - In this structure, we can see how omega-3s bind to the transporter. This information allows us to develop drugs that mimic the behavior of omega-3s and use this same method to reach the brain.
To visualize the protein, the team of researchers used a cryo-electron microscope, which allowed them to observe the shape of the carrier molecule in incredible detail, down to a fraction of a millionth of a meter: the molecules were suspended in a thin layer. of ice, while powerful lenses took photos of the protein from different angles. All the photos collected were then put together to build a 3D model.
the structure shows that MFSD2A has a 'bowl' shape and that the omega-3s transported stick to a specific side of the bowl - continues the professor Cater. - What we have been able to observe so far is only a snapshot of the protein, now we need to understand how exactly it works in motion by taking multiple photographs or, better yet, recording a video of the molecule being transported.
The team of researchers is also investigating how the transporter protein is able to recognize omega-3 molecules in the bloodstream, but further studies will be needed for this.
Source: Nature
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