脂滴是由单层磷脂分子层包裹的细胞器，其核心成分是中性脂，包括甘油三酯和固醇脂。脂滴与细胞许多功能有关，包括能量储存、膜脂补充、脂类信号、病毒增殖、蛋白储存与降解等。脂滴的大小、多少在不同组织中大相径庭，虽然其中具体的调控机制并不完全清楚。以神经细胞为例，目前研究表明，正常在体情况下神经细胞基本没有脂滴，而一些神经疾病相关突变条件下，神经细胞出现脂滴积累，然而脂滴的多少与神经疾病的关系并不清楚。本项目拟利用线虫体系，通过遗传筛选、基因功能解析及生化和组学（蛋白组学，脂组学和代谢组学）研究，系统解析神经细胞中脂滴动态调控的分子机制，来回答以下几个问题：1）神经细胞中脂肪储存是如何调控的，为什么正常情况下神经细胞没有脂滴；2）神经细胞出现脂滴对神经细胞的结构和功能有什么影响。通过这项研究，我们能够揭示神经细胞脂类代谢调控的新机制，从而为脂类代谢和神经系统的结构与功能研究提供新认识。

The main lipid storage site inside cells is the lipid droplet, an organelle with a monolayer phospholipid membrane coated by various proteins surrounding a neutral lipid core. Lipid droplet is important not only as the main energy storage site inside cells but also for membrane lipid storage, lipid signaling, protein storage and degradation, viral production, etc. The size and number of lipid droplet vary greatly in different tissues and species, although the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Ultimately, the homeostasis of lipid storage and the dynamics of lipid droplets are controlled by the balance of lipolysis and lipogenesis. Neurons usually contain few or no lipid droplets under normal physiological conditions. In several neural diseases-related mutants, lipid droplets were found in neurons, however, the cause and the neural consequence of ectopic lipid droplet are not understood. This project aims to study the regulation of lipid droplet in C. elegans neurons, bring together genetics study, biochemical analysis, and omics (quantitative proteomics, lipidomics and metabolomics), hoping to reveal new factors and networks in regulating neuronal lipid storage and address the role of lipid droplet in neurons. Our study will provide new knowledge for lipid storage regulation and neuronal function.