Mechanisms by which long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids enhance bone

人们普遍认为营养在生物学中起着重要作用。这对于强健骨骼和防止骨折是正确的。一种被称为二十二碳己酸（简称DHA）的omega脂肪，通常从富含脂肪的鱼类中获得，与强壮的骨骼有关。从先前的研究来看，DHA似乎更能减少骨质流失，而不是增加骨质。然而，科学家们需要了解身体是如何利用这种omega脂肪来增强骨骼的。为了探索DHA改变骨骼的方式，将少量DHA喂给各种动物约3个月。在研究的最后，x射线技术被用于创建骨骼图像和估计键密度。其他技术被用来通过显微镜来显示骨骼中哪些蛋白质发生了改变。此外，从腿部静脉中提取少量血液样本，测量DHA、激素和蛋白质的含量，这些激素和蛋白质被输送到骨骼中，发挥作用。为了证明DHA是通过“锁和钥匙”系统起作用的，在骨骼中结合DHA的受体蛋白会被与受体结合的药物阻断，从而阻止DHA的作用。这项研究是新颖的，因为还没有研究人员发现DHA如何在骨骼中起作用。作为一项研究培训计划，许多高素质的年轻专业人员将在5年内接受尖端技术的培训。这种培训将有助于进一步的学位学习或在需要类似技术知识的工业、学术界或政府部门工作。

It is commonly accepted that nutrition plays an important role in biology. This is true for establishing strong bones and preventing fractures. An omega fat, called docosahexanoic acid (or DHA for short), is commonly obtained from fatty fish and is linked to stronger bones. From previous studies DHA seems to work by reducing bone loss more so than adding more bone. However, scientists need to understand how the body uses this omega fat to enhance bone. To explore the ways that DHA alters bone, small amounts are fed to various animal species for about 3 months. At the end of the study, x-ray techniques are used to create images of bone and to estimate bond density. Other techniques are used to show which proteins are altered in bone using microscopes. Additionally, small blood samples are taken from a leg vein and measured for DHA plus hormones and proteins that are delivered to bone where they act. To prove that DHA works through a "lock and key" system, receptor proteins that bind DHA in bone will be blocked by feeding drugs that bind to the receptor and prevent DHA's action. This research is novel since no researcher has yet discovered how DHA works in bone. As a research training program, many highly qualified young professionals will be trained over five years using sophisticated technology. Such training will enable either further degree studies or careers in industry, academia or government where knowledge of similar technology is required.