Submit your event on Lipid Binding to be featured.
Organisms store excess energy as triacylglycerol in the form of lipid droplets. Lipid droplets are dynamic structures which change in size, subcellular location and protein content. Lipid droplets appear to mature and migrate centrally with concurrent changes in the composition of the lipid droplet coat proteins (PAT family members). Initially, the first detectable droplets collect on the cell periphery and contain TIP-47. As the droplets enlarge they migrate inward and TIP-47 is replaced by adipophilin (ADFP). In the largest centrally located droplets, perilipin appears to have displaced the other PAT family members to become the major coat protein present. Recently, a new PAT family member, OXPAT, has also been identified. OXPAT appears to be expressed predominantly in tissues with a high utilization of lipid stores.
