Lipids

Lipids are a broad group of naturally occurring molecules which includes fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E and K), monoglycerides, diglycerides, phospholipids, and others. The main biological functions of lipids include energy storage, as structural components of cell membranes, and as important signaling molecules. This volume of Methods in Cell Biology covers such areas as Membrane structure and dynamics, Imaging, and Lipid Protein Interactions. It will be an essential tool for researchers and students alike.

Membrane Dynamics and Reconstitution Assays:

1. Supported native plasma membranes as platforms for the reconstitution and visualization of endocytic membrane budding
2. Studying lipids involved in the endosomal pathway
3. Studying in vitro membrane curvature recognition by proteins and its role in vesicular trafficking
4. Reconstituting Multivesicular Body Biogenesis with purified components
5. Approaches to the study of Atg8-mediated membrane dynamics in vitro
6. Reconstitution assay system for ceramide transport with semi-intact cells
7. Visualizing mitochondrial lipids and fusion events in mammalian cells

Lipid Metabolism and Signaling:

8. Targeted and non-targeted analysis of membrane lipids using mass spectrometry
9. Modulation of host phosphoinositide metabolism during Salmonella invasion by the type III secreted effector SopB
10. Acute Manipulation of Phosphoinositide Levels in Cells
11. Regulation of phosphoinositide-metabolizing enzymes by clathrin coat proteins
12. Phosphoinositides at the neuromuscular junction of Drosophila melanogaster: a genetic approach.
13. Devising powerful Genetics, Biochemical and Structural tools in the Functional Analysis of Phosphatidylinositol Transfer Proteins (PITPs) across diverse species
14. Genome-wide screens for gene products regulating lipid droplet dynamics.

Imaging:

15. The Three Dimensionality of Cell Membranes: Lamellar to Cubic Membrane Transition as Investigated by Electron Microscopy
16. Quantitative imaging of lipid metabolism in yeast: from 4D analysis to high content screens of mutant libraries
17. Analysis of cholesterol trafficking with fluorescent probes
18. Fluorescence Correlation Methods for Imaging Cellular Behavior of Sphingolipid-Interacting Probes
19. Monitoring Phospholipid Dynamics during Phagocytosis: Application of Genetically-Encoded Fluorescent Probes
20. Genetically encoded probes for phosphatidic acid