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| Open AccessRab30 facilitates lipid homeostasis during fasting
Despite the importance of Rab GTPases in maintaining the integrity of vesicle trafficking, their physiological roles are not well understood. Here, the authors define a role for Rab30 in supporting lipid homeostasis during fasting in the mouse.
- Danielle M. Smith
- , Brian Y. Liu
- & Michael J. Wolfgang
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Article
| Open AccessIRE1α determines ferroptosis sensitivity through regulation of glutathione synthesis
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a major site of lipid peroxidation during ferroptosis. Here authors show that the ER protein IRE1α determines ferroptosis induction via regulating glutathione synthesis independent of the unfolded protein response.
- Dadi Jiang
- , Youming Guo
- & Albert C. Koong
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Article
| Open AccessDysfunctional adipocytes promote tumor progression through YAP/TAZ-dependent cancer-associated adipocyte transformation
The impact of obesity on cancer remains insufficiently explored. Here the authors show that in mouse models, dysfunctional adipocytes exhibit low levels of BECN1 which induce YAP/TAZ activity to promote breast and colorectal tumor progression.
- Yaechan Song
- , Heeju Na
- & Han-Woong Lee
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Article
| Open AccessIdentification of triacylglycerol remodeling mechanism to synthesize unusual fatty acid containing oils
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.
- Prasad Parchuri
- , Sajina Bhandari
- & Philip D. Bates
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Article
| Open AccessSelective lipid recruitment by an archaeal DPANN symbiont from its host
The symbiont Ca. Nanohaloarchaeum antarcticus is dependent on its host Halorubrum lacusprofundi for lipids due to a lack of certain biosynthetic genes. Here, the authors characterize the lipidome dynamics of this symbiotic relationship.
- Su Ding
- , Joshua N. Hamm
- & Anja Spang
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Article
| Open AccessCholesterol-binding motifs in STING that control endoplasmic reticulum retention mediate anti-tumoral activity of cholesterol-lowering compounds
Cholesterol lowering medication positively affects anti-cancer immune response, but the underpinning mechanism is not fully known. Here authors show that the effect is mediated by specific cholesterol binding motifs in STING, a key mediator of inflammation, via regulating its trafficking to Golgi.
- Bao-cun Zhang
- , Marlene F. Laursen
- & Martin R. Jakobsen
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Article
| Open AccessA concise and scalable chemoenzymatic synthesis of prostaglandins
Prostaglandins are of interest to synthetic chemists due to their biological activities. Here, the authors present a concise chemoenzymatic synthesis method for several representative prostaglandins, achieved in 5 to 7 steps, via the common intermediate bromohydrin, a radical equivalent of Corey lactone.
- Yunpeng Yin
- , Jinxin Wang
- & Jian Li
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Article
| Open AccessRab GTPases and phosphoinositides fine-tune SNAREs dependent targeting specificity of intracellular vesicle traffic
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.
- Seiichi Koike
- & Reinhard Jahn
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Article
| Open AccessRegulation of meiotic telomere dynamics through membrane fluidity promoted by AdipoR2-ELOVL2
Meiosis is a specialized cell division for generating germ cells. The authors show that the lipid composition in the cellular membrane influences meiosis-specific chromosomal dynamics in mouse testis.
- Jingjing Zhang
- , Mario Ruiz
- & Hiroki Shibuya
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Article
| Open AccessLipoarabinomannan mediates localized cell wall integrity during division in mycobacteria
Mycobacteria have a unique cell envelope that includes characteristic lipoglycans, such as lipoarabinomannan. Here, Sparks et al. show that this lipoglycan plays roles in maintenance of local cell envelope integrity and septal placement during cell division.
- Ian L. Sparks
- , Takehiro Kado
- & Yasu S. Morita
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Article
| Open AccessPla2g12b drives expansion of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins
Thierer and colleagues identify PLA2G12B as a key gene driving triglyceride incorporation into lipoproteins and show that disruption of this activity provides protection from atherosclerosis.
- James H. Thierer
- , Ombretta Foresti
- & Steven A. Farber
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Article
| Open AccessCryo-EM structure of cell-free synthesized human histamine 2 receptor/Gs complex in nanodisc environment
The study describes the molecular structure of the human histamine 2 receptor in active conformation and in complex with Gs heterotrimer, synthesized in a cell-free system and co-translationally inserted into preformed nanodiscs.
- Zoe Köck
- , Kilian Schnelle
- & Frank Bernhard
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Perspective
| Open AccessAnnexins—a family of proteins with distinctive tastes for cell signaling and membrane dynamics
Annexins are calcium-regulated membrane binding proteins with an array of cellular activities. Here, Gerke et al. describe recent research highlighting the many functions of annexins and provide a view on directions for the future.
- Volker Gerke
- , Felicity N. E. Gavins
- & Ursula Rescher
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Article
| Open AccessEvolutionarily related host and microbial pathways regulate fat desaturation in C. elegans
Fatty acid desaturation is central to metazoan lipid metabolism. Here, using C. elegans as a model, the authors show that both endogenous and microbiota-dependent small molecule signals converge to promote lipid desaturation via the nuclear receptor NHR-49/PPARα.
- Bennett W. Fox
- , Maximilian J. Helf
- & Frank C. Schroeder
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Article
| Open AccessLiquid crystalline inverted lipid phases encapsulating siRNA enhance lipid nanoparticle mediated transfection
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.
- Roy Pattipeiluhu
- , Ye Zeng
- & Thomas H. Sharp
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Article
| Open AccessPhosphoglycerate kinase 1 acts as a cargo adaptor to promote EGFR transport to the lysosome
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.
- Shao-Ling Chu
- , Jia-Rong Huang
- & Jia-Wei Hsu
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Article
| Open AccessUpregulated hepatic lipogenesis from dietary sugars in response to low palmitate feeding supplies brain palmitate
The origin of brain palmitic acid (PAM) has been debated. Here, by using natural abundance carbon isotope ratios and RNA sequencing the authors show that the majority of brain PAM is maintained by hepatic PAM synthesis from dietary sugars during development and is upregulated in mice fed low PAM.
- Mackenzie E. Smith
- , Chuck T. Chen
- & Richard P. Bazinet
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Article
| Open AccessThe juxtamembrane linker of synaptotagmin 1 regulates Ca2+ binding via liquid-liquid phase separation
Synaptotagmin (syt) 1 is a calcium sensor for neuronal exocytosis. Here, the authors show that the juxtamembrane linker of this integral membrane protein negatively regulates its calcium sensing activity by mediating self-association via liquid-liquid phase separation.
- Nikunj Mehta
- , Sayantan Mondal
- & Edwin R. Chapman
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Article
| Open AccessAtherosclerotic plaque development in mice is enhanced by myeloid ZEB1 downregulation
Accumulation of lipid-laden macrophages in the arterial wall is a critical step in atherosclerosis. Here, the authors show that downregulation of Zeb1 in macrophages promotes lipid accumulation and atherosclerotic plaque formation while its restoration with macrophage-targeted nanoparticles reverses these effects.
- M. C. Martinez-Campanario
- , Marlies Cortés
- & Antonio Postigo
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Article
| Open AccessMolecular mechanism of phospholipid transport at the bacterial outer membrane interface
Maintenance of lipid asymmetry in the bacterial outer membrane (OM) is mediated by the OmpC-Mla system, but mechanistic details remain to be elucidated. Here, the authors show that electrostatic interactions, conformational dynamics, and membrane thinning may facilitate spontaneous retrograde phospholipid transfer at the OM.
- Jiang Yeow
- , Min Luo
- & Shu-Sin Chng
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Article
| Open AccessSuppression of angiopoietin-like 4 reprograms endothelial cell metabolism and inhibits angiogenesis
Chaube et al. show that ANGPTL4 is an important player for endothelial cell metabolic function, impacting vascular permeability and angiogenesis. Knocking down ANGPTL4 increases fatty acid utilization but impairs glucose use, reducing neovascularization
- Balkrishna Chaube
- , Kathryn M. Citrin
- & Yajaira Suárez
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Article
| Open AccessPhospholipids are imported into mitochondria by VDAC, a dimeric beta barrel scramblase
Mitochondria depend on phospholipids supplied by the endoplasmic reticulum. Here, using biochemical assays and molecular dynamics simulations, authors identify VDAC as a scramblase-type lipid transporter that catalyze lipid entry.
- Helene Jahn
- , Ladislav Bartoš
- & Anant K. Menon
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Article
| Open AccessAtg18 oligomer organization in assembled tubes and on lipid membrane scaffolds
In this work, the authors determined the cryo-EM structures of autophagy-related protein 18 organized in helical tubes and provide insights into the molecular framework for the positioning of downstream components of the autophagy machinery.
- Daniel Mann
- , Simon A. Fromm
- & Carsten Sachse
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Article
| Open AccessSkeletal muscle-secreted DLPC orchestrates systemic energy homeostasis by enhancing adipose browning
MyoD is a transcription factor expressed in skeletal muscle that plays a critical role in determining myogenic cell fate. Here, Hu et al. reveal a metabolic role of MyoD in orchestrating systemic energy homeostasis by mediating muscle-fat crosstalk through the muscle-secreted lipokine DLPC.
- Xiaodi Hu
- , Mingwei Sun
- & Dahai Zhu
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Article
| Open AccessSynaptotagmin-7 outperforms synaptotagmin-1 to promote the formation of large, stable fusion pores via robust membrane penetration
Synaptotagmin-1 and -7 are calcium sensors that distinctly drive vesicular exocytosis. Here, using wild-type proteins but manipulating the composition of the target membranes, the authors show that synaptotagmin-7 is unusually robust at penetrating membranes.
- Kevin C. Courtney
- , Taraknath Mandal
- & Edwin R. Chapman
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Article
| Open AccessHIV-1 Gag targeting to the plasma membrane reorganizes sphingomyelin-rich and cholesterol-rich lipid domains
Quantitative microscopies and specific lipid probes revealed that multimerizing HIV-1 Gag in the plasma membrane inner leaflet brings the outer leaflet sphingomyelin-rich and cholesterol-rich lipid domains closer in a curvature-dependent manner.
- Nario Tomishige
- , Maaz Bin Nasim
- & Toshihide Kobayashi
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Article
| Open AccessActivation and substrate specificity of the human P4-ATPase ATP8B1
Asymmetric phospholipid distribution in cell membranes is vital for cellular function. Here, authors reveal how ATP8B1, a P4-ATPase, can transport different lipids, including phosphatidylinositol.
- Thibaud Dieudonné
- , Felix Kümmerer
- & Poul Nissen
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Article
| Open AccessZika virus prM protein contains cholesterol binding motifs required for virus entry and assembly
This study reveals the association of cholesterol with the Zika virus prM protein. It highlights the role of cholesterol during virus entry and assembly and shows the incorporation of cholesterol into the viral envelope.
- Sarah Goellner
- , Giray Enkavi
- & Ralf Bartenschlager
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Article
| Open AccessBiosynthesis of barley wax β-diketones: a type-III polyketide synthase condensing two fatty acyl units
Barley plants coat their organs with waxy diketones to protect against late-summer droughts. These diketones are formed by two enzymes, one diverting common fatty acids from normal metabolism and the other one linking two fatty acid units together.
- Yulin Sun
- , Alberto Ruiz Orduna
- & Reinhard Jetter
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Matters Arising
| Open AccessFailure to apply standard limit-of-detection or limit-of-quantitation criteria to specialized pro-resolving mediator analysis incorrectly characterizes their presence in biological samples
- Valerie B. O’Donnell
- , Nils H. Schebb
- & Garret A. FitzGerald
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Article
| Open AccessProgesterone activation of β1-containing BK channels involves two binding sites
Progesterone is used in recovery of cerebral ischemia however the mechanism of action is unknown. Authors report here that micromolar progesterone activates mouse cerebrovascular myocyte BK channels, involving two steroid binding sites.
- Kelsey C. North
- , Andrew A. Shaw
- & Alex M. Dopico
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Article
| Open AccessA transcriptional network governing ceramide homeostasis establishes a cytokine-dependent developmental process
Bioactive small molecules mediate transcription factor functions to control cellular processes. Here, Liao et al. discover that a GATA1-regulated metabolic enzyme controls ceramide homeostasis to commission vital cytokine signaling for erythropoiesis.
- Ruiqi Liao
- , Abiola Babatunde
- & Emery H. Bresnick
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Article
| Open AccessVisualization of accessible cholesterol using a GRAM domain-based biosensor
Regulated cholesterol transport is essential for the maintenance of cellular cholesterol distribution and homeostasis, but tools to monitor this process are limited. Here, the authors develop a genetically encoded cholesterol biosensor and demonstrate its use for visualising cellular cholesterol distribution in various live cells in real time.
- Dylan Hong Zheng Koh
- , Tomoki Naito
- & Yasunori Saheki
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Article
| Open AccessAcylation of glycerolipids in mycobacteria
This paper reports on two mycobacterial glycerolipid acyltransferases capable of transferring acyl chains to position 1 or position 2 of both glycerol-3-phosphate and lysophosphatidic acid.
- Shiva Kumar Angala
- , Ana Carreras-Gonzalez
- & Mary Jackson
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Article
| Open AccessHuman consumption of seaweed and freshwater aquatic plants in ancient Europe
Marine food resources are commonly thought to have become marginal food or abandoned altogether with the spread of agriculture in Europe. Here, the authors use biomarkers in dental calculus to track widespread consumption of seaweed and aquatic plants through the Neolithic and into the Early Middle Ages.
- Stephen Buckley
- , Karen Hardy
- & Maria Eulalia Subirà
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Article
| Open AccessBile acids-mediated intracellular cholesterol transport promotes intestinal cholesterol absorption and NPC1L1 recycling
Intestinal cholesterol is taken into endocytic recycling compartment via NPC1L1-mediated endocytosis. Here the authors show that certain bile acids facilitate cholesterol transport to the endoplasmic reticulum from endocytic recycling compartment in cells and NPC1L1 is then recycled back to the plasma membrane.
- Jian Xiao
- , Le-Wei Dong
- & Bao-Liang Song
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Article
| Open AccessStructure of the ceramide-bound SPOTS complex
Sphingolipids are structural membrane components produced by the serine palmitoyl transferase (SPT). Here, the authors solved the cryo EM structure of the ceramide bound yeast SPOTS complex. This explains how ceramide regulates the activity of the yeast SPT complex.
- Jan-Hannes Schäfer
- , Carolin Körner
- & Florian Fröhlich
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Article
| Open AccessA conserved membrane protein negatively regulates Mce1 complexes in mycobacteria
Mycobacterial Mce systems are putative ABC transporters for lipids. Here, the authors revealed two distinct Mce1 complexes comprising different heterohexameric substrate binding assemblies that are negatively regulated via a novel mechanism.
- Yushu Chen
- , Yuchun Wang
- & Shu-Sin Chng
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Article
| Open AccessRegulation of cellular cholesterol distribution via non-vesicular lipid transport at ER-Golgi contact sites
The molecular mechanisms responsible for cellular cholesterol distribution remain unclear. Here, the authors identify a key role of lipid transfer proteins ORP9, OSBP, and GRAMD1s in maintaining cholesterol levels in the Golgi and plasma membrane.
- Tomoki Naito
- , Haoning Yang
- & Yasunori Saheki
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Article
| Open AccessMembrane manipulation by free fatty acids improves microbial plant polyphenol synthesis
The inherent toxicity of the aromatic compounds to the chassis strain hampers further improvement of bioproduction. Here, the authors show that membrane rigidifying effect of resveratrol can be attenuated by exogenous supplementation of palmitelaidic acid or linoleic acid in fermentation of Corynebacterium glutamicum.
- Apilaasha Tharmasothirajan
- , Josef Melcr
- & Jan Marienhagen
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Article
| Open AccessExtracellular calcium functions as a molecular glue for transmembrane helices to activate the scramblase Xkr4
Dying cells display an “eat me” signal through phospholipid scrambling. Here, the authors show that activation of the plasma membrane-bound Xkr4 scramblase requires extracellular calcium as a “molecular glue” for connecting transmembrane regions.
- Panpan Zhang
- , Masahiro Maruoka
- & Jun Suzuki
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Article
| Open AccessHepatic SREBP signaling requires SPRING to govern systemic lipid metabolism in mice and humans
Hendrix et al show that absence of hepatic Spring dramatically lowers levels of lipids in the liver and plasma in mice, and protects from development of diet-induced steatosis. In line, genetic variation in SPRING is associated with lipid levels in humans.
- Sebastian Hendrix
- , Jenina Kingma
- & Noam Zelcer
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Article
| Open AccessA ferroptosis-targeting ceria anchored halloysite as orally drug delivery system for radiation colitis therapy
Radiation colitis is a major side effect for pelvic radiotherapy patients, but there are limited available treatments. Here, the authors use a halloysite clay based material for the alleviation of radiation colitis in mice by inhibiting ferroptosis.
- Yue Feng
- , Xiang Luo
- & Mingxian Liu
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Article
| Open AccessA HIF independent oxygen-sensitive pathway for controlling cholesterol synthesis
Cholesterol synthesis is highly oxygen consuming but how it is regulated by oxygen levels has not been clear. Here, Dickson et al. identify a HIF-independent, oxygen-sensing pathway for controlling cholesterol synthesis in human cells involving hypoxic-mediated degradation of SREBP2.
- Anna S. Dickson
- , Tekle Pauzaite
- & James A. Nathan
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Article
| Open AccessDetermining the metabolic effects of dietary fat, sugars and fat-sugar interaction using nutritional geometry in a dietary challenge study with male mice
The role of dietary fat vs sugar in the global obesity epidemic remains controversial. Using Nutritional Geometry methodology, the authors show that, in mice, both fats and sugars could lead to adverse metabolic outcomes, depending on the dietary context.
- Jibran A. Wali
- , Duan Ni
- & Stephen J. Simpson
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Article
| Open AccessCirculating trans fatty acids are associated with prostate cancer in Ghanaian and American men
Analyses of the association between fatty acids and prostate cancer have often neglected African patients. Here, the authors analyse 24 circulating fatty acids in Ghanaian, African American, and European American men, and explore the associations with socio-demographic factors, diet, FADS1/2 locus, and prostate cancer.
- Tsion Zewdu Minas
- , Brittany D. Lord
- & Stefan Ambs
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Article
| Open AccessRestoration of PITPNA in Type 2 diabetic human islets reverses pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is characterized by pancreatic beta-cell failure. Here, the authors show restoration of Phosphatidylinositol transfer protein alpha (PITPNA), a mediator of PtdIns-4-phosphate synthesis in the trans-Golgi network, in human T2D islets reverses impaired insulin granule maturation, exocytosis, and ER stress.
- Yu-Te Yeh
- , Chandan Sona
- & Matthew N. Poy
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Article
| Open AccessEstablishing mammalian GLUT kinetics and lipid composition influences in a reconstituted-liposome system
Transport assays using purified glucose transporters (GLUTs) have proven to be difficult to implement, hampering deeper mechanistic insights. Here the authors have optimized a transport assay in liposomes that will provide insight to study other membrane transport proteins.
- Albert Suades
- , Aziz Qureshi
- & David Drew
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Article
| Open AccessEndothelial cell CD36 regulates membrane ceramide formation, exosome fatty acid transfer and circulating fatty acid levels
Endothelial cell CD36 controls tissue fatty acid uptake. Here the authors show how fatty acid uptake by endothelial cells involves regulation of membrane ceramide production, caveolae dynamics, and exosome generation, these events facilitate transfer of circulating fatty acids to tissues and communication between endothelium and parenchyma.
- V. S. Peche
- , T. A. Pietka
- & N. A. Abumrad