Lipid droplets (LDs) constitute a functionally conserved fat storage intracellular organelle found not only in metazoans but also in bacteria, fungi and plant cells. LDs play critical role in cell physiology and metabolism. Defects in LD homeostasis manifests in several diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, fatty liver disease, and lipodystrophy. These are characterized by an abnormal distribution of body fat, ectopic fat accumulation and insulin resistance. Lipid imbalance has also been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Thus, elucidating the cell biology of LDs has moved to the forefront of biomedical research. During the last two decades our current understanding of LD biology has greatly expanded, with novel insights into how LDs are assembled, turned over, communicate with other cellular organelles, and their importance in disease pathogenesis.
The main theme of this Research topic is to present some of the fascinating new discoveries from the field of LD research, and to identify key areas that require further investigation to broaden the understanding of LD biology. LDs are born from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) with which they remain associated throughout their life cycle. LDs have a unique architecture comprising of a core of neutral lipids, notably triacylglycerol (TG) and cholesterol esters (CE), encircled by a monolayer of phospholipids that is decorated by a specific set of proteins. Recent studies have provided intriguing insights into the mechanisms of how cells regulate formation of LDs and their consumption upon cellular demand. LDs participate in diverse cellular functions including protein sequestration and degradation, binding of transcription factors, ER stress response, intermembrane lipid trafficking, assembly of infectious virions, act as innate immune hubs, and fulfil crucial roles in host-pathogen interactions. Interestingly, LDs can dynamically form contacts with other organelles that depends on the nutritional state of cell, and are involved in lipophagy and autophagy. Improvement in imaging methodology and advances in proteomics and lipidomics approaches have broadened the repertoire of LD functions. In the future, we aim to explore these innovations for biomedical applications.
The aim of this Research Topic is to highlight recent advances and novel trends in the field of LD biology, from fundamental understanding to implications in pathological conditions. We welcome submissions of Original Research articles, Reviews and mini-Review articles. Areas to be covered may include, but are not limited to:
- Novel insights into the mechanisms of LD biogenesis and degradation
- Dynamic interaction of LDs with other organelles
- Advances in proteomics and lipidomics to uncover novel functions of LDs
- Mechanisms of protein targeting to LDs
- Alteration of LD homeostasis in lipid storage related diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer
- Designing novel probes and simulation models to study LDs
- Emerging role of LDs in host-pathogen interactions
Lipid droplets (LDs) constitute a functionally conserved fat storage intracellular organelle found not only in metazoans but also in bacteria, fungi and plant cells. LDs play critical role in cell physiology and metabolism. Defects in LD homeostasis manifests in several diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, fatty liver disease, and lipodystrophy. These are characterized by an abnormal distribution of body fat, ectopic fat accumulation and insulin resistance. Lipid imbalance has also been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Thus, elucidating the cell biology of LDs has moved to the forefront of biomedical research. During the last two decades our current understanding of LD biology has greatly expanded, with novel insights into how LDs are assembled, turned over, communicate with other cellular organelles, and their importance in disease pathogenesis.
The main theme of this Research topic is to present some of the fascinating new discoveries from the field of LD research, and to identify key areas that require further investigation to broaden the understanding of LD biology. LDs are born from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) with which they remain associated throughout their life cycle. LDs have a unique architecture comprising of a core of neutral lipids, notably triacylglycerol (TG) and cholesterol esters (CE), encircled by a monolayer of phospholipids that is decorated by a specific set of proteins. Recent studies have provided intriguing insights into the mechanisms of how cells regulate formation of LDs and their consumption upon cellular demand. LDs participate in diverse cellular functions including protein sequestration and degradation, binding of transcription factors, ER stress response, intermembrane lipid trafficking, assembly of infectious virions, act as innate immune hubs, and fulfil crucial roles in host-pathogen interactions. Interestingly, LDs can dynamically form contacts with other organelles that depends on the nutritional state of cell, and are involved in lipophagy and autophagy. Improvement in imaging methodology and advances in proteomics and lipidomics approaches have broadened the repertoire of LD functions. In the future, we aim to explore these innovations for biomedical applications.
The aim of this Research Topic is to highlight recent advances and novel trends in the field of LD biology, from fundamental understanding to implications in pathological conditions. We welcome submissions of Original Research articles, Reviews and mini-Review articles. Areas to be covered may include, but are not limited to:
- Novel insights into the mechanisms of LD biogenesis and degradation
- Dynamic interaction of LDs with other organelles
- Advances in proteomics and lipidomics to uncover novel functions of LDs
- Mechanisms of protein targeting to LDs
- Alteration of LD homeostasis in lipid storage related diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer
- Designing novel probes and simulation models to study LDs
- Emerging role of LDs in host-pathogen interactions
