Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026
09:58
Lipidomics and Transcriptomics in Neurological Diseases
Published on: March 18, 2022
Lipidomics at the interface of structure and function in systems biology
1Division of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. rgross@wustl.edu
Chemistry & Biology
|March 29, 2011
Summary
Lipidomics, the study of lipids, is crucial for understanding cellular functions and diseases. Shotgun lipidomics enables detailed analysis of lipid alterations in health and disease, revealing mechanisms of lipid-related disorders.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Systems Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Lipids are essential molecules involved in cellular signaling, energy, and membrane structure.
- Lipid-related diseases are prevalent, highlighting the need for advanced analytical techniques.
- Lipidomics offers a direct approach to identify functional changes in lipid metabolism and signaling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To emphasize the significance of lipidomics in systems biology.
- To highlight the role of lipidomics in understanding lipid-related diseases.
- To showcase the advancements in lipid analysis.
Main Methods:
- Development and application of shotgun lipidomics.
- Utilizing both targeted and nontargeted lipidomic investigations.
- High-density information accrual on lipidome alterations.
Main Results:
- Shotgun lipidomics facilitates rapid and comprehensive lipidome analysis.
- Identified alterations in lipid metabolism and signaling networks.
- Revealed chemical mechanisms underlying various lipid-related diseases.
Conclusions:
- Lipidomics is a powerful tool for dissecting lipid roles in health and disease.
- Advancements in lipidomics have significantly improved our understanding of lipid-related pathologies.
- Lipidomics is integral to systems biology and the study of disease mechanisms.
Related Concept Videos
03:38Structure of Lipids
Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are largely nonpolar in nature. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include mostly nonpolar carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of fats. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals. For example, they help keep aquatic birds and...
03:38Structure of Lipids
Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are largely nonpolar in nature. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include mostly nonpolar carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of fats. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals. For example, they help keep aquatic birds and...
03:38Structure of Lipids
Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are largely nonpolar in nature. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include mostly nonpolar carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of fats. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals. For example, they help keep aquatic birds and...
01:31Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body
Fats and lipids are crucial components in the human body. Some lipid-derived compounds, such as fat-soluble vitamins, eicosanoids, lipoproteins, and glycolipids, also play unique roles to support various biological processes .
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin, delayed...
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin, delayed...
01:24Overview of Lipid Metabolism
Lipid metabolism is a crucial process in the human body that involves the synthesis and degradation of lipids. This process is essential for energy production, cell membrane formation, and hormone production, among other functions.
Lipolysis: The Breakdown of Lipids:
Lipolysis is the process of breaking down lipids, particularly triglycerides, into glycerol and fatty acids. This process typically occurs in the adipose tissue and is triggered by various hormones, including glucagon and...
Lipolysis: The Breakdown of Lipids:
Lipolysis is the process of breaking down lipids, particularly triglycerides, into glycerol and fatty acids. This process typically occurs in the adipose tissue and is triggered by various hormones, including glucagon and...
01:29Biosynthesis of Lipids
Microbial membranes exhibit remarkable diversity in lipid composition, reflecting evolutionary adaptations to various environmental conditions. The three domains of life—Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya—synthesize membrane lipids through distinct biosynthetic pathways, leading to fundamental structural differences that impact membrane stability, function, and adaptability.Fatty Acid-Based Lipids in Bacteria and EukaryaBacteria and eukaryotes share a common fatty acid biosynthesis pathway, which...