lipidomiikan

Lipidomiikan is the set of biochemical processes that govern the metabolism of lipids in living organisms. It encompasses uptake from diet, intracellular synthesis, storage as triglycerides in adipose tissue, hydrolysis to release fatty acids, and oxidation for energy, as well as the synthesis of membrane lipids and cholesterol and the production of lipid-derived signaling molecules.

In mammals, major pathways include lipolysis in adipose tissue, controlled by enzymes such as hormone-sensitive lipase; fatty acid activation and transport in tissues like muscle and liver; beta-oxidation in mitochondria to generate acetyl-CoA and ATP; ketogenesis during prolonged fasting; lipogenesis in liver and adipose tissue, converting acetyl-CoA to fatty acids and triglycerides; and cholesterol biosynthesis via the mevalonate pathway. Lipid remodeling and synthesis of phospholipids, sphingolipids, and sterols support membrane structure and function.

Lipids are transported in the bloodstream as lipoproteins. Dietary triglycerides are carried by chylomicrons; the liver produces VLDL; circulating lipids are remodeled into LDL and HDL, which distribute cholesterol and other lipids to tissues. Lipoprotein metabolism interacts with insulin signaling, energy status, and inflammatory cues.

Regulation of lipidomiikan involves hormones (insulin promotes lipogenesis and storage; glucagon and adrenaline promote lipolysis), energy sensors like AMPK, and transcription factors such as SREBP-1c and PPARs that control enzymes in fatty acid and cholesterol pathways. Dysregulation can contribute to obesity, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and atherosclerosis.