简介

Abnormalities in lipid metabolism are major contributing factors to various disease states including obesity, diabetes, and cardiomyopathies. Together, these diseases are the leading cause of death in the United States and most other developed countries. It is hypothesized that high circulating levels of lipids lead to internalization and the resultant lipoatrophies of normal cells and tissues. Prevention of these disease states and therapeutic intervention therefore is desired and requires an understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms leading to transport and trafficking of fatty acids.