2021/08/20 by Shamshad Cockcroft · 193 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Biosynthesis #Caveolin-1 and cellular processes #Cell signaling #Function (biology) #Kinase #Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior #Lipid droplet #Lipid metabolism #Lipidomics #Membrane lipids #Sphingolipid #Sphingolipid Metabolism and Signaling
paper · pdf · doi:10.1042/ebc20200067
published in Essays in Biochemistry 65(5), 813-845 (Portland Press)
openalex publication_date 2021/08/20 · openalex created_date 2021/08/30 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/03
Lipids are essential constituents of cellular membranes. Once regarded merely as structural components, lipids have taken centre stage with the discovery of their roles in cell signalling and in the generation of bioactive metabolites. Lipids regulate many physiological functions of cells and alterations in membrane lipid metabolism are associated with major diseases including cancer, Type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease and immune disorders. Understanding lipid diversity, their synthesis and metabolism to generate signalling molecules will provide insight into the fundamental function of the cell. This review summarises the biosynthesis of the lipids of the mammalian cell; phospholipids, sphingolipids and cholesterol and how lipid diversity is achieved. The fatty acids (FAs) are the main building blocks of lipids and contribute to the diversity. Lipid synthesis is intimately connected to their transport within cells; the contribution by proteins that transport lipids, lipid transport proteins will be described. Cellular lipids are metabolised by phospholipases, lipid kinases and phosphatases to make new bioactive metabolites. These transient bioactive metabolites allow cells to respond to the external environment to maintain cellular health. The function of individual metabolites is also highlighted. Bioactive metabolites can be second messengers, or released to the external medium to regulate other cells. Alternatively, bioactive lipids also provide a platform for reversible recruitment of proteins to membranes using their lipid-binding domains. The wide range of physiological processes in which a specific involvement of lipids has been identified explains the need for lipid diversity present in mammalian cells.