Structural and Mediator Lipidomics ─ A Functional View

Lipidomics is the part of metabololomics dedicated to lipids. It can be defined as the full molecular characterization of the lipid component in a defined system, as well as consideration of their function when available. Their recent development has led experts in the field to distinguish between different subdomains, like structural or mediator lipidomics, in an attempt to simplify the data and decrease the complexity of their interpretation.

In this book, the authors present lipid molecular species, which have been well defined for their biological activities, whatever the biological system involves, with reference to the closely related structural lipids. The emphasize bioactive lipids issued from membrane lipids, especially polyunsaturated fatty acid derivatives produced trough various oxygenation processes. They also cover enzymes associated with the production of these bioactive lipids and receptor proteins relating to their action.

As the methodological aspects are crucial considerations in characterizing the various lipids, the most common methods in use are depicted, together with a dynamic approach to evaluate the fluxes between the bioactive molecules, ant the attempt to visualize the lipids in their membrane superstructures.

Michel Lagarde is a University Professor (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology), working at the National Institute for Applied Sciences (INSA) of Lyon, France. His teaching activity deals with structural and functional biochemistry, as well as general metabolism. His research field relates to the involvement of lipids, especially those of nutritional value, and lipid mediators in blood and vascular cells, in the frame of the French medical research council (Inserm). Also, he is the scientific director of a national Functional lipidomics platform and a Carnot institute dedicated to Lipids for Industry and Safety & health (LISA). He has published more than 300 original articles with an H factor of 43, and is co-author of 7 patents.