Lipid Metabolism and Ferroptosis

Abstract

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of non-apoptotic cell death that is characterized by the accumulation of toxic lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS). The execution of ferroptosis does not appear to rely on particular protein effectors. Rather, the initiation and execution of this process depends upon modulation of intracellular metabolism. In particular, the process of lipid peroxidation is essential for ferroptosis. While the central role of lipid peroxidation in ferroptosis is clear, the precise lipid peroxide species formed during ferroptosis, as well as how and where they are generated, remain poorly understood. This chapter explores these questions and describes the role of lipids and lipid metabolism in the initiation, execution, and suppression of ferroptosis.