Docosahexaenoate-containing phospholipids in sarcoplasmic reticulum and retinal photoreceptors. A proposal for a role in Ca2+-ATPase calcium transport.

A critical review of the experimental literature concerning the metabolism of all-cis-4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19-docosahexaenoate-containing phospholipids in muscle and retina suggests that it plays an essential role in maximizing the Ca2+/ATP stoichiometry of the Ca2+-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum and retinal photoreceptor disks. Docosahexaenoate-phosphatidylcholine is proposed to participate in oligomerization of Ca2+-ATPase necessary for the establishment of a high Ca2+/ATP coupling ratio of the Ca2+ pump in these tissues. Possible tests of this hypothesis are presented.