Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
12
pubmed:dateCreated
2011-1-4
pubmed:abstractText
Lipid droplets (LDs) are dynamic cytoplasmic organelles containing neutral lipids and bounded by a phospholipid monolayer. Previous studies have suggested that LDs can undergo constitutive homotypic fusion, a process linked to the inhibitory effects of fatty acids on glucose transporter trafficking. Using strict quantitative criteria for LD fusion together with refined light microscopic methods and real-time analysis, we now show that LDs in diverse cell types show low constitutive fusogenic activity under normal growth conditions. To investigate the possible modulation of LD fusion, we screened for agents that can trigger fusion. A number of pharmacological agents caused homotypic fusion of lipid droplets in a variety of cell types. This provided a novel cell system to study rapid regulated fusion between homotypic phospholipid monolayers. LD fusion involved an initial step in which the two adjacent membranes became continuous (<10 s), followed by the slower merging (100 s) of the neutral lipid cores to produce a single spherical LD. These fusion events were accompanied by changes to the LD surface organization. Measurements of LDs undergoing homotypic fusion showed that fused LDs maintained their initial volume, with a corresponding decrease in surface area suggesting rapid removal of membrane from the fused LD. This study provides estimates for the level of constitutive LD fusion in cells and questions the role of LD fusion in vivo. In addition, it highlights the extent of LD restructuring which occurs when homotypic LD fusion is triggered in a variety of cell types.
pubmed:commentsCorrections
http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-10588646, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-10948207, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-10998351, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-10998572, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-11352984, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-11470496, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-11516669, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-12432454, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-12534346, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-12591929, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-14528016, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-14730417, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-15461933, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-15689493, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-15731108, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-15914536, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-16051169, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-16051877, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-16207721, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-16239926, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-16643278, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-16679289, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-16735577, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-17004324, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-17057226, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-17127743, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-17308334, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-17395284, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-17850214, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-17922004, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-18088320, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-18250201, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-18408709, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-18708159, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-18827008, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-18980248, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-19307600, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-19431663, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-19754438, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-2605189, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-2898307, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-3882699, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-7247966, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-7665999, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/21203462-9699505
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
1932-6203
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:volume
5
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
e15030
pubmed:dateRevised
2011-7-20
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2010
pubmed:articleTitle
Quantitative analysis of lipid droplet fusion: inefficient steady state fusion but rapid stimulation by chemical fusogens.
pubmed:affiliation
The University of Queensland, Institute for Molecular Bioscience and Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, Brisbane, Australia.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't