In recent years, it has become clear that fat has a role beyond that of macromolecular energy storage. Indeed, fat participates in intracellular processes as diverse and complex as membrane fluidity, signal transduction and the regulation of gene expression. Furthermore, as specific fats are involved in mediating these effects, the profile of dietary intake assumes vital importance, especially as humans cannot make several of the key lipids themselves.
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- Department of Biochemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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