The team of Professor Li Guiling from Jimei University: The antioxidant activity of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and its regulation in mitochondria

Recently, the team of Professor Li Guiling and Professor Liu Jingwen from the School of Food and Biological Engineering of Jimei University published an online article entitled "Antioxidant Activity of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) and Its Regulatory Roles in Mitochondria" in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Highlights

*DHA increases the activity and expression level of mitochondrial antioxidant enzymes, reduces the level of reactive oxygen species, and improves the antioxidant capacity of cells.

*DHA may be inserted into the mitochondrial membrane, changing the mitochondrial membrane potential and oxidative phosphorylation, and improving mitochondrial function.

*DHA increases mitochondrial copy number, up-regulates the expression of mitochondrial-related genes, and promotes mitochondrial biosynthesis.

Introduction

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid necessary for human body, which has many physiological functions of anti-platelet aggregation, anti-arteriosclerosis, anti-cancer and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.

Results and Discussion

1) DHA improves cellular antioxidant capacity

The effect of DHA on the total antioxidant capacity, antioxidant enzyme activity and gene expression of cells was tested.

2) The regulation of DHA on cellular antioxidant enzymes

The effects of DHA on the activity of cell main antioxidant enzymes and their gene expression levels were studied.

3) The regulation of DHA on cell mitochondrial function

The effects of DHA on cell oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial membrane potential were studied.

4) The regulation of DHA on cell mitochondrial biosynthesis

The fluorescence quantitative PCR method was used to detect the mitochondrial copy number, the expression of mitochondrial coding genes and antioxidant-related transcription factors to explore the regulation of DHA on mitochondrial biosynthesis, and it was found that 100mM DHA significantly increased the mitochondrial copy number, partial coding genes and antioxidant-related transcription The expression level of the factor (Figure 4) shows that DHA promotes the biosynthesis of cell mitochondria.

Conclusion

DHA improves the total antioxidant capacity of HepG2 cells by enhancing the function and biosynthesis of mitochondria.

About the Author

Professor Liu Jingwen

Liu Jingwen, female, professor, PhD, and doctoral supervisor of the School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jimei University, has successively won honorary titles such as Xiamen City Excellent Teacher, Xiamen City "March 8th" Red Flag Bearer, Fujian Province May 1st Labor Medal, and Fujian Province Advanced Worker.

Professor Li Guiling

Li Guiling, female, professor, Ph.

The article "Antioxidant Activity of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) and Its Regulatory Roles in Mitochondria" was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in February 2021.

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