Molecular mechanisms generating and maintaining phospholipid asymmetry and its consequences.

The distribution and organization of these fats are regulated by a variety of proteins, referred to as scramblases and flippases. Not surprisingly, mutations in these proteins are proposed to influence a myriad of disorders including male infertility, bile acid accumulation in the liver, diabetes, obesity and neurological defects. This proposal will explore both the cell biological roles of phosphatidylserine and the proteins that regulate its distribution. Understanding the function of this lipid within the cell and the proteins that regulate it will help us understand the disorders described and aid in the development of treatments.