Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2011 Mar 1.
Published in final edited form as: Prog Retin Eye Res. 2009 Dec 3;29(2):113–134. doi: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2009.11.004

Figure 4.

Figure 4

Enzymatic and oxidative mechanisms of docosahexaenoate metabolism and degradation. The esterified form of DHA (docosahexaenoate) is converted to free DHA by phospholipase activity. A lipoxygenase then forms picomolar levels of neuroprotectin D-1 (NPD1), primarily in RPE cells. Molecular oxygen reacts with docosahexaenoate to form a 7 carbon reactive aldehyde intermediate (HOHA) that is capable of forming carboxyethylpyrrole (CEP) protein adducts. The first 7 carbons in docosahexaenoate (shown in red) give rise to HOHA; R= glycerophospholpid esterified with DHA.