Studies of Lipid Droplets : Intracellular Dynamics and Regulatory Mechanisms of Functions

脂滴是储存中性脂质的细胞器。特定的蛋白质组合与ld表面结合，可能使ld具有组织特异性。我们产生并鉴定了缺乏MLDP的小鼠，MLDP是一种在心脏中富集的ld结合蛋白。这些小鼠完全缺乏心脏ld，并且表现出更高水平的脂肪和碳水化合物代谢。因此，由于心脏中脂肪的异常积累，他们表现出对心肌病的抵抗力增强。我们还研究了脂肪细胞在儿茶酚胺依赖性脂质动员过程中ld的形态变化和ld结合蛋白的重新分布。

Lipid droplets (LDs) are organelles storing neutral lipids. Specific sets of proteins bind to the surface of LDs, probably providing LDs with tissue specificities. We generated and characterized mice lacking MLDP, a LD-binding protein enriched in the heart. These mice completely lacked LDs in the heart, and exhibited higher level of metabolism of fat and carbohydrate. Consequently, they exhibited enhanced resistance to cardiomyopathy due to aberrant accumulation of fat in the heart. We also studied the morphological changes of LDs and redistribution of LD-binding proteins during catecholamine-dependent lipid mobilization in adipocytes.