Lipid and protein dynamics in lipid droplet assembly – LIPRODYN

Lipid droplets (LDs) are cellular organelles resembling oil-in-water emulsion droplets, containing neutral lipids, coated by phospholipids and proteins. LDs are responsible for regulation of energy and lipid metabolism, and deficiencies in their formation or functioning lead to disease. Generated in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), the biogenesis and functioning of LDs depend on a number of proteins, but the driving forces and mechanisms determining LD proteome are not understood. LIPRODYN aims at deciphering how LDs acquire their proteome during biogenesis. We will use a combination of computational, biophysical, and cell biology approaches to determine (a) how lipid composition and ER membrane topology affect LD assembly and stability, and (b) the role of lipid composition and specific ER proteins in defining the LD proteome and hence LD function. Understanding the physical, chemical, and biological factors determining LD proteome will open new perspectives on lipid-related disorders.