Eicosapentaenoic Acid

Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids have recently been found to play important role in human health. In particular, eicosapentaenoic acid is implicated as a protective agent in a range of pathologies such as cardiovascular disease and Metabolic Syndrome. Eicosapentaenoic acid's current source is from fish oils, the presence of this fatty acid being due to the dietary piscine consumption of eicosapentaenoic acid-synthesizing micro-algae. The biosynthetic pathway of eicosapentaenoic acid has been elucidated, and contains several alternative metabolic routes. Progresses in using “reverse engineering” to trans-genetically mobilize the trait(s) for eicosapentaenoic acids are considered. In particular, the prospect of producing this important polyunsaturated fatty acid in transgenic oilseeds is highlighted, as is the urgent need for a sustainable replacement for diminishing fish stocks.

So basically, in laymen's terms, new chemical engineering is being done in order for bioidentical replacements to take the place of the diminishing supply of the fish used to obtain the necessary fatty acids. As soon as they can be created biosynthetically, then the need for as many fish will be lessened.

Dec. 13, 2005. lansbury.bwh.harvard.edu.

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