Lipidomics update - March 2012

Lipid of the month

Betulinic acid
Used widely in Asian medicine and folk medicine, birch bark, roots, buds and leaves contain the pentacyclic triterpenic acid betulinic acid, which shows a wide range of biological activities.

Research highlights

• Metabolomics: Gaining insight into pain

  The endogenous metabolite N,N-dimethylsphingosine is upregulated in the dorsal horn of rats with neuropathic pain and can induce mechanical hypersensitivity in vivo.

• Steroidogenesis: ASAH1 goes global

  Suppressing the expression of acid ceramidase (ASAH1) identifies a central role for this sphingosine-generating enzyme in adrenocorticol steroidogenesis.

• Stem cells: Making fat

  An efficient and consistent protocol for differentiating embryonic stem and induced pluripotent stem cells into white and brown adipocytes is reported.

• Breast cancer: Reprogramming ERα

  The pioneer factor FOXA1 reprogrammes oestrogen receptor-α target gene selection, which advances tumour progression and induces resistance to endocrine therapy.

• Bacterial pathogenesis: A balancing act for LLO and PLC

  Phospholipases produced by Listeria monocytogenes can trigger the production of microbicidal reactive oxygen species, but this is countered by the generation of the pore-forming toxin listeriolysin O.

• Obesity and diabetes: An FGFR antibody with long-lasting effects

  An agonistic antibody specific for FGF receptor 1 has long-lasting antidiabetic and lipid-lowering properties.

Events calendar

• Gordon Research Conference on Glycolipid and Sphingolipid Biology

  22 - 27 June, 2012

• LIPID MAPS Annual Meeting 2012: Lipidomics Impact on Cell Biology, Metabolomics and Translational Medicine

  7 - 8 May, 2012
  Early registration ends Friday, March 9th

more events