Dec. 2, 2010 The discovery by UCLA biochemists of a new method
for preventing oxidation in the essential fatty acids of cell
membranes could lead to a new class of more effective
nutritional supplements and potentially help combat
neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease and
perhaps Alzheimer's. While polyunsaturated fatty acids are
essential nutrients for everything from brain function to cell
function, they are the most vulnerable components in human cells
because of their high sensitivity to oxidative modifications
caused by highly reactive oxygen molecules in the body. The
biochemists, led by UCLA chemistry and biochemistry professor
Catherine Clarke, have developed a new method for increasing the
stability of polyunsaturated fatty acids. They have discovered a
way to make these molecules harder to break apart so that
oxidation is less likely to occur, rather than relying on
antioxidants to repair damage after it occurs. "These compounds
(polyunsaturated fatty acids) are so important, yet s