Fatty acids are pivotal for life. Release of fatty acids from more complex lipids requires hydrolysis by an enzymatic process called lipolysis. Depending on the organelle and localization, we discriminate between neutral lipolysis in cytoplasmic lipid droplets and acid lipolysis in lysosomes.Our main goal is to understand the physiological function of metabolic lipases in distinct cells and organs. Transgenic mice as well as global and tissue-specific knockout mouse models are phenotypically characterized with special emphasis on lipid and energy metabolism. The group focuses on the function of the respective enzymes in isolated cells and tissues and studies the underlying signaling pathways.

Important recent contributions include the findings that lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) regulates VLDL synthesis and insulin sensitivity in mice and that LAL is crucial in murine brown adipose tissue to maintain thermogenesis. Due to the severe phenotype of Lal-deficient mice, the cause and consequence of LAL deficiency on specific cell and organ function is still unknown. Generation and characterization of tissue-specific Lal-deficient mouse models will help to clarify cell-specific functions of LAL and discriminate from systemic effects of LAL deficiency on lipid and energy metabolism.