Lipids in the cell: organisation regulates function

Cell Mol Life Sci. 2018 Jun;75(11):1909-1927. doi: 10.1007/s00018-018-2765-4. Epub 2018 Feb 9.

Abstract

Lipids are fundamental building blocks of all cells and play important roles in the pathogenesis of different diseases, including inflammation, autoimmune disease, cancer, and neurodegeneration. The lipid composition of different organelles can vary substantially from cell to cell, but increasing evidence demonstrates that lipids become organised specifically in each compartment, and this organisation is essential for regulating cell function. For example, lipid microdomains in the plasma membrane, known as lipid rafts, are platforms for concentrating protein receptors and can influence intra-cellular signalling. Lipid organisation is tightly regulated and can be observed across different model organisms, including bacteria, yeast, Drosophila, and Caenorhabditis elegans, suggesting that lipid organisation is evolutionarily conserved. In this review, we summarise the importance and function of specific lipid domains in main cellular organelles and discuss recent advances that investigate how these specific and highly regulated structures contribute to diverse biological processes.

Keywords: Cell signalling; Lipid rafts; Lipophagy; Oxidative stress; Raft-like microdomains.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autophagy
  • Biological Transport
  • Cell Nucleus / chemistry
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cell Nucleus / pathology
  • Humans
  • Lipid Metabolism*
  • Lipids / analysis*
  • Membrane Microdomains / chemistry
  • Membrane Microdomains / metabolism
  • Membrane Microdomains / pathology
  • Mitochondria / chemistry
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Mitochondria / pathology
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Lipids