Fatty acids are the simplest type of lipids that serve as building blocks for more complex lipids such as phospholipids, cholesterol, and vitamin E, which are integral to cell membranes (Fig. 1). Abnormal metabolism and imbalances of these three complex lipids have all been associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and will be outlined in following sections. Fatty acids can be saturated,...

The neutral lipids steryl ester and triacylglycerol (TAG) are stored in the membrane-bound organelle lipid droplet (LD) in essentially all eukaryotic cells. It is unclear what physiological conditions require the mobilization or storage of these lipids. Here, we study the budding yeast mutant are1Δ are2Δ dga1Δ lro1Δ, which cannot synthesize the neutral lipids and therefore lacks LDs. This quadr...

Cell membranes actively participate in stress sensing and signalling. Here we present the first in-depth lipidomic analysis to characterize alterations in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe in response to mild heat stress (HS). The lipidome was assessed by a simple one-step methanolic extraction. Genetic manipulations that altered triglyceride (TG) content in the absence or presence of...

Fluid membranes containing charged lipids enhance binding of oppositely charged proteins by mobilizing these lipids into the interaction zone, overcoming the concomitant entropic losses due to lipid segregation and lower conformational freedom upon macromolecule adsorption. We study this energetic-entropic interplay using Monte Carlo simulations and theory. Our model system consists of a flexib...

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram-negative pathogen, which causes life-threatening infections in immunocompromized patients. These bacteria express a secreted lipoxygenase (PA-LOX), which oxygenates free arachidonic acid to 15S-hydro(pero)xyeicosatetraenoic acid. It binds phospholipids at its active site and physically interacts with lipid vesicles. When incubated with red blood cells membrane l...

We have detected membrane lipid-derived free radicals from neoplastic cells subjected to Photofrin photosensitization. The presence of the prooxidants iron or iron plus ascorbate in the L1210 cell system increased the intensity of the spin-trapped lipid radical electron paramagnetic resonance spectra and correspondingly decreased cell survival. In addition, raising the proportion of unsaturated...

Artificial introduction of functional molecules on the cell surface may be a promising way to improve the therapeutic effects of cell therapy. Pegylated lipids are conventionally used in drug carriers. The lipid part of pegylated lipids noncovalently interacts with the cell surface. However, little information is available regarding conditions for cell-surface modification by using pegylated li...

We have detected membrane lipid-derived Tree radicals from neoplastic cells subjected to Photofrin photosensitization. The presence of the prooxidants iron or iron plus ascorbate in the LI210 cell system increased the intensity of the spin-trapped lipid radical electron paramagnetic reso nance spectra and correspondingly decreased cell survival. In addition, raising the proportion of unsaturate...

Lipids are known not only as components of cell membranes but also as part of the nuclear fraction. In the nucleus lipids are present with a specific composition and metabolism and their behaviour, in different physiological and pathological conditions, is completely independent from that of the cell membrane. The nuclear lipid fraction is constituted by glycerolphospholipids, sphingolipid and ...

Homeostatic cell physiology is preserved through the fidelity of the cell membranes restitution. The task is accomplished through the assembly of the precisely duplicated segments of the cell membranes, and transport to the site of their function. Here we examined the mechanism that initiates and directs the restitution of the intra- and extracellular membranes of gastric mucosal cell. The home...