Our laboratory is focused on the role of lipid metabolism pathways in the regulation of energy homeostasis. We are particularly interested in how the multifunctional organelles called peroxisomes channel lipids to discrete subcellular compartments to influence metabolism. Peroxisomes are closely associated with lipid droplets and mitochondria. Their ability to carry out fatty acid oxidation and lipid synthesis, especially the production of ether-linked phospholipids, may be critical for generating cellular signals required for normal physiology. We have developed several new mouse models to study various aspects of peroxisome biology, including peroxisomal biogenesis, fatty acid oxidation, and ether lipid synthesis. We are interested in the physiological roles of these processes in various metabolic organs, such as adipose tissue, pancreatic islets, liver, and skeletal muscle. The major focus is on the role of peroxisomes in adipose tissue.

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