ABSTRACT
Introduction 182
Fatty Acid Structure and Tissue Sources 182
Metabolism of Fatty Acids 183
Absorption 183
Transport as Lipoproteins 184
Intracellular Metabolism 186
Fatty Acid Regulation of Gene Expression 187
PUFA and Hepatic Lipogenesis 187
PUFA Induction of Lipid Oxidation 189
Fatty Acids and Adipocytes Gene Expression 189
Fatty Acid and Arterial Wall Gene Expression 190
PUFA and Their Cellular Mechanisms of Action 191
Transcription Factors 192
Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPAR) 192
PPAR Ligands 193
Other Families of Transcription Factors that Mediate the PUFA/PUFA Derivative Effect on Gene Expression 193
Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Protein 194
Hepatic Nuclear Receptor-4 (HNF-4) 194
Nuclear Factor-Y (NF-Y) and Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-kB) 194
Fatty Acids, Gene Expression, and the Coordination of Glucose and
Insulin Homeostasis and Lipoprotein Metabolism 195
Summary 196
References 196
INTRODUCTION
Over 95% of fat in the diet and in the body is present as fatty acids. In addition to
meeting 30-40% of total body energy demands in Westernized societies, fatty
acids are an integral component of all biological membranes and serves as a
precursor for a number of essential compounds in the body such as the
hormone-like eicosanoids, which mediate inflammatory and thrombotic pro-
cesses. Furthermore, in recent years, it has become evident that fatty acids can
also act as signalling molecules by serving as ligands for transcriptional factors
which modulate gene expression.
