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Long-Chain Fatty Acid Transport

Meaning

Long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) transport is the specialized, regulated process by which fatty acids containing 13 or more carbon atoms are moved across biological membranes, particularly the plasma membrane and mitochondrial membranes, to be utilized for energy production or structural incorporation. This process is essential for providing fuel to highly metabolic tissues like the heart and muscle, and for supplying building blocks for the complex lipids in the brain. Deficiencies in this transport system can lead to systemic energy deficits and lipid accumulation.