The role of phospholipids in the biogenesis of lipid droplets

总体目标是阐明控制脂滴生物发生/形成的基本分子机制。脂滴储存固醇酯和/或三酰基甘油，这两种主要的储存脂质在细胞和全身脂质代谢中起关键作用。脂滴也是植物油和生物柴油的核心成分。人们对脂滴是如何产生的知之甚少。拟议的工作将检查某些脂质中间体，如磷脂酸的合成，以及它们对内质网脂滴生物合成的影响。这些关于细胞如何储存中性脂质的基本新知识将为提高植物油和生物柴油生产提供新的策略。

The general aim is to elucidate the fundamental molecular mechanisms that govern the biogenesis/formation of the lipid droplets. Lipid droplets store sterol esters and/or triacylglycerols, two major storage lipids that play key roles in cellular and whole body lipid metabolism. Lipid droplets are also the core components of plant oil and biodiesel. Little is known about how lipid droplets are generated. The proposed work will examine the synthesis of certain lipid intermediates such as phosphatidic acid, and their impact on the biogenesis of lipid droplets from the endoplasmic reticulum. Such fundamental new knowledge on how cells store neutral lipids will provide new strategies for enhancing plant oil and biodiesel production.