[Lotus]

PUFA have been known for nearly 40 years to uniquely suppress lipid synthesis. PUFA, particularly n-3, accomplish this by coordinating an upregulation of lipid oxidation and a downregulation of lipid synthesis. In other words, PUFA function as metabolic fuel “repartitioners.” Such fuel repartitioning may protect cells against the accelerated rates of apoptosis reportedly observed with excessive triglyceride accumulation (12, 25). PUFA exert their effects on metabolic pathways by governing the DNA binding activity and nuclear abundance of select transcription factors responsible for regulating the expression of genes encoding key regulatory proteins of lipid and glucose metabolism. With respect to their role in fatty acid oxidation, PUFA increase the fatty acid oxidative capacity of tissues through their ability to function as ligand activators of PPAR-α and thereby induce the transcription of several genes encoding proteins affiliated with fatty acid oxidation. On the other hand, PUFA suppress lipid synthesis by inhibiting transcription factors that mediate the insulin and carbohydrate control of lipogenic and glycolytic genes. In this regard, PUFA rapidly generate an intracellular signal that immediately suppresses the proteolytic release-

Molecular mechanism for polyunsaturated fatty acid regulation of gene transcription
http://ajpgi.physiology.org/content/281/4/G865