Grant: Project Grant

Fats are essential molecules for all cells. Fats are key parts of the walls around cells, and cells also use them as an energy source. Too much fat, however, is toxic. Cells have developed strategies to prevent toxicity from too much fat. Cells can transport fats to other cells that are better equipped to make use of the extra fat. This is a particularly important process in the brain. Of all the organs in our bodies, our brains contain the highest percentage of fat. Problems in transporting fats between cells occur in many neurodegenerative diseases. Recovery from stroke is also affected by problems in transporting fats in the brain. This research project will uncover molecular pathways and mechanisms that control transport of fat in the brain. We will study individual brain cells and mice to determine these pathways and mechanisms. With that knowledge in hand, in the future we can examine molecules in those pathways and mechanisms as targets for drugs. Such drugs could be developed to reduce or avoid fat toxicity in neurodegenerative diseases or stroke.