Lipid Metabolism
Squalene Synthase catalyzes the first step committed to cholesterol synthesis. Other important cellular pathways such as ATP synthesis and glycosylation are not affected. HMG-CoA reductase is the rate-limiting enzyme of cholesterol biosynthesis.
Cholesterol is an essential component of all mammalian cell membranes, shaping both their physical properties and biological functions. Although cholesterol is synthesized throughout the body and its levels are tightly regulated, the central nervous system represents a remarkable exception: the brain produces all of its cholesterol locally. As a result, it operates entirely independently from dietary cholesterol and systemic lipid metabolism.
Our research group investigates how disturbances in cholesterol and lipid metabolism affect the nervous system. Using a broad range of transgenic mouse models, we dissect the contributions of individual cell types to maintaining lipid homeostasis in the brain. We also explore the cell biological functions of lipids and how they influence brain function.
A growing focus of our work is the role of lipid metabolism in neurodegenerative diseases. By analyzing lipid pathways in disease models, we aim to uncover mechanisms that contribute to pathology and to identify opportunities for developing innovative lipid‑based therapeutic strategies.