Course description: This module will provide an overview of major lipid biosynthetic pathways and the role of lipids in cell physiology. Lipids as a class of molecules display wide diversity in structure with >100,000 species identified. A primary function of lipids is to form the membrane bilayer barrier of cells and organelles. However, it is now abundantly clear that lipids influence nearly every aspect of cell physiology.

Topics to be covered:

Biosynthetic pathways in bacteria, yeast and mammals

Lipids in Signal Transduction and Vesicular Transport

Lipid-Protein Interactions

Post-translational modification of proteins by lipids (i.e. protein lipidation)

Biochemical Analysis of Lipids including Lipidomics

Monogenic Lipid Disorders