THE ROLE OF FATTY-ACIDS IN GENE-EXPRESSION - HEALTH IMPLICATIONS

The effect of nutrients on gene expression is an area of considerable interest as the number of genes coding for key regulatory proteins in metabolic pathways is investigated, This paper presents an overview of the role of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids on the expression of gene s involved in lipogenesis, glycolysis, glucose transporters, inflammat ion, early gene expression, and vascular cell adhesion molecules, Wher eas some of the transcriptional effects of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty a cids appear to be mediated by eicosanoids, the suppression of lipogeni c and glycolytic genes is independent of eicosanoid synthesis, and app ears to involve a nuclear mechanism directly modified by these fatty a cids.