Pet10p is a yeast lipid droplet protein of unknown function. We show that it binds specifically to and is stabilized by droplets containing triacylglycerol (TG). Droplets isolated from cells with a PET10 deletion strongly aggregate, appear fragile, and fuse in vivo when cells are cultured in oleic acid. Pet10p binds early to nascent droplets, and their rate of appearance is decreased in pet10Δ ...

The Seipin/BSCL2 gene was originally identified as a loss-of-function gene for congenital generalized lipodystrophy type 2 (CGL2), a condition characterized by severe lipoatrophy, insulin resistance, hypertriglyceridaemia and mental retardation. Recently, gain-of-toxic-function mutations (namely, mutations N88S and S90L) in the seipin gene have been identified in autosomal dominant motor neuron...

Human lipodystrophies represent a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by generalized or partial fat loss, with fat hypertrophy in other depots when partial. Insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and diabetes are generally associated, leading to early complications. Genetic forms are uncommon: recessive generalized congenital lipodystrophies result in most cases from mutations in the genes ...

The human congenital generalized lipodystrophy type 2 protein seipin (Fld1 in budding yeast) controls lipid droplet (LD) size through an unknown mechanism. Here, we report that deletion of yeast LDB16/YCL005W, similar to deletion of FLD1, causes supersized and small clustered LDs, altered phospholipid metabolism and impaired distribution of a subset of LD proteins. Ldb16 is a transmembrane prot...

Mutations in >50 genes, including spastin and atlastin, lead to hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). We previously demonstrated that reduction of spastin leads to a deficit in axon regeneration in a Drosophila model. Axon regeneration was similarly impaired in neurons when HSP proteins atlastin, seipin, and spichthyin were reduced. Impaired regeneration was dependent on genetic background and w...

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. Recent epidemiological studies suggest that echinacoside (ECH), a phenylethanoid glycoside found in Cistanche deserticola, has a protective effect against the development of PD. However, the detailed mechanisms of how ECH suppresses neuronal death have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we confirmed that ECH p...

BACKGROUND N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), in particular eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have been shown to effectively improve hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance caused by obesity. Lipodystrophy could also develop insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis. However, the effect of supplemental DHA/EPA to hepatic steatosis caused by lipodystrophy is u...

The lipid droplet (also known as lipid particle and oil body) is a dynamic organelle whose boundary is surrounded by a phospholipidmonolayer andwhose inner core is composedmainly of triacylglycerol (TAG) and steryl esters. The monolayer surface is coated with an assortment of proteins that serve structural and metabolic functions. Although the existence of lipid droplets in mammalian cells, pla...