Bioactive Lipids: Chemical, Biological Properties and Pharmaceutical Applications
Lipids are a large and diverse group of naturally occurring organic compounds with a great structural variety among the different chemical classes. They are biologically active and ubiquitous metabolites that have different functions from structural cell components, including energy storage and signaling. Over 100,000 bioactive lipids have been identified as signaling molecules involved in the regulation of molecular mechanisms in both physiologic and pathologic systems, such as arthritis, cancer, heart disease, obesity, and neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, a characterization of new lipidic molecules such as a deeper understanding of their cellular functions, from cell signaling to metabolic and gene regulation, could unveil the role of these lipids as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers of disease.
This Special Issue will cover all fields of research in bioactive lipids, including chemical and biological properties, the isolation and structure characterization of new lipids, mechanisms of action and medicinal applications, synthetic approaches, and new methods for the purification and quantification of active lipids.
