Review article

The importance of biological membranes’ health

Alena Buretić-Tomljanović orcid.org/0000-0002-9840-1245 ; Zavod za biologiju i medicinsku genetiku, Medicinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci, Rijeka

Abstract

Biological membranes of the cell compose a dynamic structure spread throughout the cytoplasm. The lateral organization of membranes changes according to the composition of the two bilayers, enabling signalling processes and substantial interactions between different organellar and the cellular membrane. Lipids, one of the main structural components of biological membranes show high compositional complexity, no well-defined molecular structure, and versatile functions. Scientific research enabled deeper insight into functional capabilities of different lipid molecules in maintaining cellular homeostasis and health in general. Biological membranes mediate environmental influences and signal transfer to the cell nucleus. Through the specific transcription factors and/or epigenetic mechanisms, nutrients (fatty acids and others), act as important environmental factors, regulate numerous genes’ expression, and modulate the phenotypic expression of the individuals’ genes. Fatty acids, especially polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) represent the main structural and functional component of the membrane phospholipids. PUFA content (mainly docosahexaenoic acid, but also others) of the phospholipids modulate physical, chemical, and electrical features of the biological membranes. Unbalanced membrane lipid composition (deficit of n-3 family of PUFA, cholesterol, and/or particular sphingolipids) may disturb membrane dynamics and cellular homeostasis initiating endoplasmic reticulum stress, inflammatory processes, and speeding up aging. PUFA, their derivatives, monounsaturated fatty acids and saturated fatty acids possess versatile inflammatory potential that points to the relevance of the relative content of different fatty acids in the human diet. Essential PUFA must be available in the human diet, but cellular and membrane physiology also demands continuos dietary intake of long-chain PUFA from early development throughout the lifetime. Low-grade inflammation processes, that might be related to the biological membranes’ composition and physiology, are widely recognized in the scientific literature as basis for neurodegenerative, psychiatric and other chronic diseases in humans.

Keywords

chronic disease; diet; docosahexaenoic acid; inflammation; lipids; membranes

Hrčak ID:

129782

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/129782

Publication date:

1.12.2014.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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