New technique to image single lipids: Lipids are notoriously difficult to detect with light microscopy. Using a new chemical labeling strategy, the Dresden team has overcome this limitation, enabling novel insights into where specific lipids are located and how they are transported in cells.

Map of lipid flow: The researchers used the new lipid imaging method to answer the long-standing question how cells transport specific lipids to their target organelle membranes. The study revealed that non-vesicular lipid transport by proteins is the primary mechanism that maintains the membrane composition of specific organelles.

Understanding the role of lipids in diseases: Lipid imbalances play a role in several metabolic or neurodegenerative diseases. The new lipid-imaging technique will help understand the role of lipid transport in health and disease. The identification of the proteins involved in selective lipid transport can accelerate further discoveries of new drug targets for lipid-associated diseases.