Regulation of Triglyceride Metabolism. I. Eukaryotic neutral lipid synthesis: “Many ways to skin ACAT or a DGAT”

Abstract

Esterification of sterols, fatty acids and other alcohols into biologically inert forms conserves lipid resources for many cellular functions. Paradoxically, the accumulation of neutral lipids such as cholesteryl ester or triglyceride, is linked to several major disease pathologies. In a remarkable example of genetic expansion, there are at least eleven acyltransferase reactions that lead to neutral lipid production. In this review, we speculate that the complexity and apparent redundancy of neutral lipid synthesis may actually hasten rather than impede the development of novel, isoform-specific, therapeutic interventions for acne, type 2 diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver disease, and atherosclerosis.