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Lipids are hydrophobic or amphiphilic small molecules that include sterols, waxes, fatty acids and phospholipids, and are insoluble in water and soluble in organic solvent. Biological lipids are generated from ketoacyl and isoprene (CH2=C(CH3)CH=CH2) groups and include glycerolipids, sphingolipids, fatty acids and polyketides. Lipids play roles in energy storage, signalling and as structural components.
Ferroptosis, a cell death mechanism induced by lipid peroxidation, is pivotal in tumor suppression. A recent study shows that tumor repopulating cells evade ferroptosis and develop resistance to therapy via subverting a lipid metabolism enzyme.
MEF2C is a transcription factor that has known functions in a variety of cell types, but it has not yet been ascribed a role in natural killer cells. Data now show that MEF2C promotes the functional responses of human and murine natural killer cells by controlling their metabolic programs.
Phosphorylation of ACSL4 by mitochondria-located metabolic kinase PCK2 is critical to regulating ferroptosis-associated phospholipid remodeling in tumor-repopulating cells that are resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
The authors used cryo-EM to visualize the arrangement of lipids at the closed groove of a TMEM16 scramblase and to reveal that both the structures and distributions of the protein’s conformations depend on the lipid composition and nanodisc scaffold.
Triacylglycerol remodeling in Physaria fendleri changes the seed oil fatty acid composition after initial synthesis to overcome metabolic bottlenecks in the accumulation of valuable unusual fatty acids. This process enhances designer oil engineering.
Ferroptosis, a cell death mechanism induced by lipid peroxidation, is pivotal in tumor suppression. A recent study shows that tumor repopulating cells evade ferroptosis and develop resistance to therapy via subverting a lipid metabolism enzyme.
Fats and oils are crucial dietary supplements for human health. However, animal fats and palm oil dominate the food industry, with concerns over health and the environment that call for the development of fat alternatives. The fat industry offers a vast market potential, with several startups pioneering new technical solutions and attracting venture capital interest.
MEF2C is a transcription factor that has known functions in a variety of cell types, but it has not yet been ascribed a role in natural killer cells. Data now show that MEF2C promotes the functional responses of human and murine natural killer cells by controlling their metabolic programs.
Detection of intracellular lipolysaccharide (LPS) activates an immune response initiated by the non-canonical inflammasome. ATGL has now been identified as a negative regulator of this pathway that dampens inflammation by removing LPS’ acyl chains, preventing the activation of inflammatory caspases and cytokines.
A new study identifies a hormone that is secreted by the gut in response to cholesterol absorption and can inhibit cholesterol synthesis in the liver, which prevents an increase in circulating cholesterol levels.
The coenzyme Q biosynthetic pathway has evaded full characterization for decades, in part due to the inherent insolubility of coenzyme Q and the instability of its membrane-associated biosynthetic enzymes. Now, researchers have resurrected an active ancestral coenzyme Q metabolon in vitro that has unveiled valuable insights into previously uncharacterized aspects of coenzyme Q biosynthesis.