LAUSR

Although no internationally accepted consensus definition exists, lipids can be broadly defined as “fatty acids and their derivatives, and substances related biosynthetically or functionally to these compounds”. Lipids play critical roles as (i) the major structural components of biological membranes, and as functional and regulatory components of membrane protein signaling, (ii) bioactive intra- and inter-cellular signaling molecules, and (iii) energy storage molecules for the maintenance of energy homeostasis. With studies originating almost one century ago, significant insights continue to be made toward elucidating the functional role of lipid metabolism in the dynamic regulation of cellular homeostasis, and in determining the role of dysregulated lipid metabolism in the onset and progression of a range of human diseases, including diabetes, neurodegeneration, and cancer. These diverse functions are highly dependent on the structures of the lipids, their concentrations, and their inter- and intra-cell...