Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Nine Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
Curr Biol. 2009 Dec 1;19(22):R1046-52. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2009.09.058.
Lipid biosynthesis is essential for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. The lipids produced by cells (glycerolipids, fatty acids, phospholipids, cholesterol, and sphingolipids) are used as an energy source/reserve, as building blocks for membrane biosynthesis, as precursor molecules for the synthesis of various cellular products, and as signaling molecules. Defects in lipid synthesis or processing contribute to the development of many diseases, including obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cancer. Studies published over the last few years have shown that the target of rapamycin (TOR), a conserved serine/threonine kinase with an important role in regulating cell growth, controls lipid biosynthesis through various mechanisms. Here, we review these findings and briefly discuss their potential relevance for human health and disease.
脂质生物合成对于维持细胞内环境稳定至关重要。细胞产生的脂质（甘油磷脂、脂肪酸、磷脂、胆固醇和鞘脂）可用作能量源/储备、膜生物合成的构建模块、各种细胞产物合成的前体分子以及信号分子。脂质合成或加工的缺陷会导致多种疾病的发生，包括肥胖症、胰岛素抵抗、2 型糖尿病、非酒精性脂肪肝和癌症。过去几年发表的研究表明，雷帕霉素靶蛋白（TOR）是一种保守的丝氨酸/苏氨酸激酶，在调节细胞生长方面具有重要作用，它通过多种机制控制脂质生物合成。在这里，我们回顾了这些发现，并简要讨论了它们对人类健康和疾病的潜在相关性。
