Lipids and Their Trafficking: An Integral Part of Cellular Organization

An evolutionarily conserved feature of cellular organelles is the distinct phospholipid composition of their bounding membranes, which is essential to their identity and function. Within eukaryotic cells, two major lipid territories can be discerned, one centered on the endoplasmic reticulum and characterized by membranes with lipid packing defects, the other comprising plasma-membrane-derived organelles and characterized by membrane charge. We discuss how this cellular lipid organization is maintained, how lipid flux is regulated, and how perturbations in cellular lipid homeostasis can lead to disease.