Phospholipids articles from across Nature Portfolio

Targeting of transport vesicles requires specific proteins and membrane lipids. Here, authors microinjected liposomes with a predetermined composition to show that targeting by SNAREs is refined when polyphosphoinositides and Rab GTPases are included.

This Review describes the various mechanisms of ion-coupled transport across membranes and how the activities of transporter proteins are modulated by the composition of the lipid bilayer.

Researchers unveiled the structural details of sphingomyelin synthase (SMSr), shedding light on its role in sphingolipid biosynthesis. SMSr transfers the phosphoethanolamine from PE to ceramide, adding complexity to the field of lipid homeostasis.

The authors display the bottom-up design, assembly, and in-depth characterization of defined lipid-RNA structures in the core of lipid nanoparticles. The inverted structures are thermostable and provide better transfection over lamellar structures.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays important roles in cell growth and motility. Here, authors reveal an unexpected function for a metabolic enzyme PGK1 and advance the mechanistic understanding of lysosomal transport of EGFR.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) and PAF-like phospholipids were identified as propagators of ferroptosis, whereas PAFAH2 suppressed synchronized ferroptosis and, thus, prevented tubular cell death in acute kidney injury.

Half a century after its discovery, platelet-activating factor (PAF) is now recognized as a ferroptosis-activating phospholipid that contributes to tubule cell damage and nephron loss in acute kidney injury.

New cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of CDP- and CDP-choline-bound choline phosphotransferase 1 (CHPT1) and choline/ethanolamine phosphotransferase 1 (CEPT1), involved in the metabolism of the two main lipids in eukaryotic cell membranes, capture the membrane proteins at resolution <4 Å, sufficient to gain mechanistic insights into these enzymes.

The Hippo pathway is a key regulator of tissue homeostasis, organ size and cancer. Identification of microcolin B and its analog molecules as Hippo pathway activators connects PtdIns4P-dependent lipid signaling with the Hippo pathway, suggesting potential targets for cancer therapy.

Phosphoinositide signalling regulates cellular processes and is hijacked by pathogens. Classically, phosphoinositides are produced by kinase- and phosphatase-catalysed reactions. A study now reveals an unprecedented, kinase- and ATP-free synthesis of PtdIns(3,4)P₂ via a phosphotransferase mechanism during bacterial infection.

Mitochondrial-derived vesicles (MDVs) transfer mitochondrial content to lysosomes and peroxisomes. A study now reveals that MDVs deliver β-barrel proteins and fully assembled mitochondrial complexes for lysosomal degradation, establishing an important role for MDVs in mitochondrial protein quality control.