Abstract
In most organisms, storage lipids are packaged into specialized structures called lipid droplets. These contain a core of neutral lipids surrounded by a monolayer of phospholipids, and various proteins which vary depending on the species. Hydrophobic structural proteins stabilize the interface between the lipid core and aqueous cellular environment (perilipin family of proteins, apolipoproteins, oleosins). We developed a genetic approach using heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae of the Arabidopsis thaliana lipid droplet oleosin and caleosin proteins AtOle1 and AtClo1. These transformed yeasts overaccumulate lipid droplets, leading to a specific increase in storage lipids. The phenotype of these cells was explored using synchrotron FT-IR microspectroscopy to investigate the dynamics of lipid storage and cellular carbon fluxes reflected as changes in spectral fingerprints. Multivariate statistical analysis of the data showed a clear effect on storage carbohydrates and more specifically, a decrease in glycogen in our modified strains. These observations were confirmed by biochemical quantification of the storage carbohydrates glycogen and trehalose. Our results demonstrate that neutral lipid and storage carbohydrate fluxes are tightly connected and co-regulated.
Highlights
In yeasts, plants and other organisms, storage lipids, i.e. oil, are packaged into specialized structures called lipid droplets or oil bodies [1,2]
We previously expressed the A. thaliana minor lipid droplet integral protein, AtClo1, in S. cerevisiae which led to an increased lipid storage capacity in these cells
We compared the effects of these two integral lipid droplet proteins, which share structural properties, on lipid droplet morphology and neutral lipid storage when expressed in yeast
Summary
Plants and other organisms, storage lipids, i.e. oil, are packaged into specialized structures called lipid droplets or oil bodies [1,2]. These consist mainly of a core of neutral lipids (triacylglycerols and/or steryl esters) surrounded by a monolayer of phospholipids, and contain a number of proteins which vary considerably with the species [3,4]. Proteomic and genetic studies of this compartment in the last decade have shown that lipid droplets are not inert fat depots Instead, they appear as a complex dynamic organelle with a role in metabolism control and cell signaling [5,6,7].
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