Roles of Lipids in Nuclear Homeostasis and Genome Stability

Along with nucleic acids, proteins, and carbohydrates, lipids are one of the four major biomolecules in living organisms. Cellular processes are mediated by the concerted action of these biomolecules, thus giving rise to complex interaction networks. Yet, while two-thirds of the cell proteome is in constant interaction with multiple lipid species, there is a poor definition of this type of interaction specifically within the nucleus, and almost none of lipid-nucleic acid interactions. This disequilibrium relates to historical reasons, but also to the difficulty of applying classical lipid-related techniques to a territory such as a nucleus. As a consequence, the limited research in this domain translates into scarce and rarely gathered information, further discouraging new initiatives.

Yet, the nucleus is delimited by a double membrane bilayer. It is pierced by invaginated membrane-derived structures, such as the nucleoplasmic reticulum, and harbors enigmatic lipid droplets. Membrane-less organelles in the nucleus such as the nucleoli, the splicing speckles or even DNA repair foci harbor different phosphoinositide species. The biology of chromatin (and of chromosomes) is profoundly modulated by physical and genetic interactions with phospholipids. And even the processes ruling DNA damage signaling and repair emerged recently as controlled by lipids.

The time has come that the roles of nuclear lipids are defined as a well-established discipline. This Workshop gathers actors of lipids and nuclear biology working world-wide, and will foster exchanges, install the realisation of a legitimate and coherent community, seed new collaborations, establish self-determination and visibility.