Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD), the central enzyme in the biosynthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids, introduces a cis-Δ9 double bond into saturated fatty acids. SCD-1 has been proposed as promising target for the treatment of cancer, skin disorders and metabolic diseases, and strong efforts have been made during the last decade to develop clinical drug candidates. While the regulation and biological implications of SCD-1 have been extensively reviewed, the molecular mechanisms through which SCD-1 mediates cellular responses remained a mystery. An important aspect seems to be that SCD-1 induces adaptive stress signaling that maintains cellular persistence and fosters survival and cellular functionality under distinct pathological conditions. Here, we will first provide an overview about the function, regulation, structure and mechanism of SCD-1 and then focus on mitogenic and stress-related signal transduction pathways orchestrated by SCD-1. Moreover, we will discuss molecular mechanisms and potential lipid factors that link SCD-1 activity with initial signal transduction.