Lipid metabolism in sickness and in health: Emerging regulators of lipotoxicity

Lipids play crucial roles in signal transduction, contribute to the structural integrity of cellular membranes, and regulate energy metabolism. Questions remain as to which lipid species maintain metabolic homeostasis and which disrupt essential cellular functions, leading to metabolic disorders. Here, we discuss recent advances in understanding lipid metabolism with a focus on catabolism, synthesis, and signaling. Technical advances, including functional genomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, lipid-protein interaction maps, and ad-vances in mass spectrometry, have uncovered new ways to prioritize molecular mechanisms mediating lipid function. By reviewing what is known about the distinct effects of specific lipid species in physiological path-ways, we provide a framework for understanding newly identified targets regulating lipid homeostasis with implications for ameliorating metabolic diseases.

Automated summary

This article discusses the roles of lipids in metabolism, including signal transduction, structural integrity of cellular membranes, energy metabolism, and introduces the latest research advancements and technical methods in lipid metabolism. The authors specifically analyze the effects of specific lipid species in physiological pathways, providing a framework for understanding newly identified targets for regulating lipid homeostasis.