Overview: The lipases and phospholipases represent a diverse group of enzymes that are expressed in animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria. Their ubiquitous distribution among all species is a testament to the essential roles played by these enzymes in lipid storage, mobilization and metabolism, membrane homeostasis and remodeling, endocrine and immune functions, and signal tra- duction. In humans, lipases and phospholipases are also thought to contribute to complex diseases, such as atherosclerosis, obesity, arthritis, and cancer, as well as to single gene defects, such as Wolman‘s disease and
|