Chemical modulation of glycerolipid signaling and metabolic pathways

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta Vol. 1841; no. 8; pp. 1060 - 1084
• Main Authors: Scott, Sarah A., Mathews, Thomas P., Ivanova, Pavlina T., Lindsley, Craig W., Brown, H. Alex
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.08.2014
• Subjects: Acyltransferases - metabolism; Autotaxin; biochemical pathways; cell communication; diabetes; enzymes; Fatty acyltransferase; Glycerol - chemistry; Glycerolipid; Inhibitor; Lipase; Lipase - metabolism; Lipid kinase; lipids; Lipids - chemistry; Lipids - physiology; Lipin; Metabolism; neoplasms; neurophysiology; Phospholipase; Phospholipases - metabolism; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases - metabolism; Phosphotransferases - metabolism; Signal Transduction; FFA; PS; Glycerolipid; PLA; ATX; ADHD5; PLC; ATGL; PLD; PtdBuOH; PNPLA; Lipase; PI3K; CGI-58; AA; HSL; LPAAT; DGK; DGAT; DAG; Metabolism; PA; Phospholipase; PC; PE; 2-AG; Autotaxin; PG; Fatty acyltransferase; Lipin; Lipid kinase; Inhibitor; FA; TAG; LPA; DAGL; GPAT; LPC; PIP2; MGLL
• ISSN: 1388-1981; 0006-3002; 1879-2618
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2014.01.009

Thirty years ago, glycerolipids captured the attention of biochemical researchers as novel cellular signaling entities. We now recognize that these biomolecules occupy signaling nodes critical to a number of physiological and pathological processes. Thus, glycerolipid-metabolizing enzymes present attractive targets for new therapies. A number of fields—ranging from neuroscience and cancer to diabetes and obesity—have elucidated the signaling properties of glycerolipids. The biochemical literature teems with newly emerging small molecule inhibitors capable of manipulating glycerolipid metabolism and signaling. This ever-expanding pool of chemical modulators appears daunting to those interested in exploiting glycerolipid-signaling pathways in their model system of choice. This review distills the current body of literature surrounding glycerolipid metabolism into a more approachable format, facilitating the application of small molecule inhibitors to novel systems. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Tools to study lipid functions. •Glycerolipid-signaling pathways play an important role in human physiology and disease.•Glycerolipid-metabolizing enzymes are attractive targets for therapeutic intervention.•Chemical modulators interrupting glycerolipid signaling are essential tools in research.