Glycobiology, Lipids & Metabolic Disorders

Lipids in Molecular Medicine and Virology

Clinical drugs that connect with membrane lipids and that modify the composition and structure of cell membranes can transform the localization and/or activity of membrane proteins. In general, adjustments in membrane lipid structure are emulated in changes in membrane lipid activity. Several drugs used to fight against cancer, cardiovascular diseases and obesity and other pathologies, determine lipid structure in plasma membrane and they produce a concomitant alteration in the localization and activity of signaling proteins. The recent studies have resulted in identifying specific disease-provoking gene mutations and have led to improved clinical and laboratory treatments, prenatal diagnosis in lipid-related diseases.