Lipids fulfill various functions in life as membrane constituents, for energy storage, or as signaling molecules. If the human lipid metabolism is disturbed, this may lead to serious illnesses such as adipositas and its subsequent complications including cardiovascular diseases or diabetes mellitus. Other consequences of a disordered lipid metabolism include brain dysfunctions, especially if the sphingolipid metabolism is affected, which can often be related to a specific genetic mutation. Sensu stricto, lipids are defined as apolar natural products that can be classified as fatty acids, whose derivatives are waxes, triacylglycerides, phospholipids, sphingolipids and glycolipids. Lipids also constitute important post-translational protein modifications in lipoproteins. The amphiphilic nature of compounds such as phospholipids with a polar headgroup and a long apolar chain results in the spontaneous formation of lipid bilayers in aqueous environments. This was likely a crucial process for the origin of life – and certainly still is for all existing living systems that necessarily contain lipid membranes with their interesting and finely balanced biophysical properties.

See also the Thematic Series:
Natural products in synthesis and biosynthesis II
Transition-metal and organocatalysis in natural product synthesis
Biosynthesis and function of secondary metabolites