Lipidomics era: Accomplishments and challenges

• Published in: Mass spectrometry reviews Vol. 29; no. 6; pp. 877 - 929
• Main Authors: Bou Khalil, Maroun, Hou, Weimin, Zhou, Hu, Elisma, Fred, Swayne, Leigh Anne, Blanchard, Alexandre P, Yao, Zemin, Bennett, Steffany A.L, Figeys, Daniel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.11.2010; Wiley; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Apoptosis; Bioinformatics; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Membrane - ultrastructure; Cell Physiological Phenomena; Computational Biology; Fats, Unsaturated - chemistry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Homeostasis; Humans; Hydrocarbons - chemistry; identification; Lipid metabolism; Lipid Metabolism - genetics; Lipid Metabolism - physiology; lipidomics; Lipids; Lipids - chemistry; Lipids - physiology; Mass Spectrometry - instrumentation; Mass spectroscopy; Membrane trafficking; Metabolomics - methods; Molecular Conformation; Other biological molecules; quantification; Signal Transduction; systems biology; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; systems biology; Tandem mass spectrometry; Analysis method; identification; quantification; Lipids; Lipidomics; Qualitative analysis; Review; Bioinformatics; Quantitative analysis; Structural analysis
• ISSN: 0277-7037; 1098-2787
• DOI: 10.1002/mas.20294

Lipid mediators participate in signal transduction pathways, proliferation, apoptosis, and membrane trafficking in the cell. Lipids are highly complex and diverse owing to the various combinations of polar headgroups, fatty acyl chains, and backbone structures. This structural diversity continues to pose a challenge for lipid analysis. Here we review the current state of the art in lipidomics research and discuss the challenges facing this field. The latest technological developments in mass spectrometry, the role of bioinformatics, and the applications of lipidomics in lipid metabolism and cellular physiology and pathology are also discussed.