PAT Family Proteins Research Articles

Characterization of a splice variant of perilipin 5

Lipid storage provides energy stores for the body in times of increased oxidative requirements, such as fasting or exercise, but when the balance of lipid storage and mobilization is disrupted human health suffers. Implications for increased lipid storage include risk factors for developing type II diabetes mellitus and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease. The perilipin family of proteins associate with the surface of lipid droplets and are essential to regulation of stored triacylglycerols. Perilipin 5 functions to maintain a balance between the storage of triacylglycerols in lipid droplets or their mobilization when energetically required. Several members of the perilipin gene family exhibit differential splicing, most notably perilipin 1 but reports exist of alternative messages for shortened forms of perilipins 2 and 3. We have identified a shortened form of perilipin 5 we have termed perilipin 5b. Western blots indicate that the protein, of approximately 35 kDa, is present in C2C12 cultured myoblasts and in heart and liver tissue from fed and fasted mice. Analysis of murine genomic DNA sequences reveals stop codons found in the introns between exons 6 and 7 and 7 and 8, either of which could give rise to a protein of approximately 35 kDa, indicating the likelihood of the observed protein being a splice variant, rather than a post‐translationally modified protein. Using RT‐PCR we have identified multiple amplicons suggesting that perilipin‐5b contains a read through of intron 6 of the murine perilipin 5 gene. Mining transcriptome databases reveals several transcripts with retained introns. Analysis of the amino acid sequence of perilipin 5b indicates that this truncation would lack the reported C‐terminal domain essential for interactions with ATGL and CGI‐58 but would retain the PKA site found at Ser155. The function of perilipin 5b is yet unknown, but the fact that it is found primarily in heart tissue seems to suggest that it plays a role in the oxidation of the lipid droplet. These data are consistent with what is currently known about Perilipin‐5 and the other PAT family proteins. Determination of perilipin 5b function will give a more accurate picture of the overall mechanism of lipid storage and metabolism.

Effect of palmitoleic acid on the differentiation of bovine skeletal muscle satellite cells.

We hypothesized that the unsaturated fatty acid palmitoleic acid (POA) could promote the expression of adipogenic/lipogenic genes in bovine skeletal muscle satellite cells (BSCs). The BSCs were cultured in a growth medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum. When the cells reached 80%–90% confluence, we used the differentiation medium with 5% horse serum for differentiation for 96 h. The differentiation medium contained 50 µM, 100 µM and 200 µM POA. Control BSC were cultured only in differentiation media. Compared with the control BSC, the POA BSC significantly up-regulated the expression of paired box 3 (Pax3) and paired box 7 (Pax7) and down-regulated myogenin gene expression (p < 0.01), which indicates a depression in muscle fiber development. However, all POA treatments up-regulated the expression of the adipocyte transcription factors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha and beta (C/EBP α and C/EBP β), and other genes (p < 0.01) and increased the expression of PAT-family proteins and the concentration of adiponectin in the media. These results indicate that POA can convert part of BSCs into adipocytes.

Characterization of a Splice Variant of Perilipin 5

Lipid storage provides energy stores for the body in times of increased oxidative requirements, such as fasting or exercise, but when the balance of lipid storage and mobilization is disrupted human health suffers. Implications for increased lipid storage include risk factors for developing type II diabetes mellitus and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease. The perilipin family of proteins associate with the surface of lipid droplets and are essential to regulation of stored triacylglycerols. Perilipin 5 functions to maintain a balance between the storage of triacylglycerols in lipid droplets or their mobilization when energetically required. Several members of the perilipin gene family exhibit differential splicing, most notably perilipin 1 but reports exist of alternative messages for shortened forms of perilipins 2 and 3. We have identified a shortened form of perilipin 5 we have termed perilipin 5b. Western blots indicate that the protein, of approximately 35 kDa, is present in C2C12 cultured myoblasts and in heart and liver tissue from fed and fasted mice. Analysis of murine genomic DNA sequences reveals stop codons found in the introns between exons 6 and 7 and 7 and 8, either of which could give rise to a protein of approximately 35 kDa, indicating the likelihood of the observed protein being a splice variant, rather than a post‐translationally modified protein. Using RT‐PCR we have identified multiple amplicons suggesting that perilipin‐5b contains a read through of intron 6 of the murine perilipin 5 gene. Analysis of the amino acid sequence of perilipin 5b indicates that this truncation would lack the reported C‐terminal domain essential for interactions with ATGL and CGI‐58 but would retain the PKA site found at Ser155. The function of perilipin 5b is yet unknown, but the fact that it is found primarily in heart tissue seems to suggest that it plays a role in the oxidation of the lipid droplet. These data are consistent with what is currently known about Perilipin‐5 and the other PAT family proteins. Determination of perilipin 5b function will give a more accurate picture of the overall mechanism of lipid storage and metabolism.

FAM134B promotes adipogenesis by increasing vesicular activity in porcine and 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Family with sequence similarity 134, Member B (FAM134B), is a cis-Golgi transmembrane protein that is known to be necessary for the long-term survival of nociceptive and autonomic ganglion neurons. Recent work has shown that FAM134B plays a pivotal role in autophagy-mediated turnover of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes, tumor inhibition and lipid homeostasis. In this study, we provide mechanistic links between FAM134B and ARF-related protein 1 (ARFRP1) and further show that FAM134B resides in the Golgi apparatus. Here, we found that FAM134B increased lipid accumulation in adipocytes. Transport vehicle number and ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) family gene expression were also increased by FAM134B overexpression, suggesting that vesicular transport activity enhanced lipid accumulation. ARF-related protein 1 (ARFRP1) is a GTPase that promotes protein trafficking. We show that FAM134B regulates the expression of ARFRP1, and the knockdown of ARFRP1 abolishes enhancement on lipid accumulation caused by FAM134B. In addition, FAM134B upregulates the PAT family protein (PAT), which associates with the lipid droplets (LDs) surface and promotes lipolysis by recruiting adipocyte triglyceride lipase (ATGL). These findings indicate that FAM134B promotes lipid accumulation and adipogenic differentiation by increasing vesicle transport activity in the Golgi apparatus and inhibiting the lipolysis of LDs.

Regulation of TG accumulation and lipid droplet morphology by the novel TLDP1 in Aurantiochytrium limacinum F26-b

Thraustochytrids are marine single-cell protists that produce large amounts of PUFAs, such as DHA. They accumulate PUFAs in lipid droplets (LDs), mainly as constituent(s) of triacylglycerol (TG). We identified a novel protein in the LD fraction of Aurantiochytrium limacinum F26-b using 2D-difference gel electrophoresis. The protein clustered with orthologs of thraustochytrids; however, the cluster was evolutionally different from known PAT family proteins or plant LD protein; thus, we named it thraustochytrid-specific LD protein 1 (TLDP1). TLDP1 surrounded LDs when expressed as a GFP-tagged form. Disruption of the tldp1 gene decreased the content of TG and number of LDs per cell; however, irregular and unusually large LDs were generated in tldp1-deficient mutants. Although the level of TG synthesis was unchanged by the disruption of tldp1, the level of TG degradation was higher in tldp1-deficient mutants than in the WT. These phenotypic abnormalities in tldp1-deficient mutants were restored by the expression of tldp1. These results indicate that TLDP1 is a thraustochytrid-specific LD protein and regulates the TG accumulation and LD morphology in A. limacinum F26-b.

Perilipin 1 is a highly specific marker for adipocytic differentiation in sarcomas with intermediate sensitivity.

Liposarcomas are the most common soft tissue sarcomas of adults. The identification of lipoblastic cells in soft tissue sarcomas is mandatory for the diagnosis of most subtypes of liposarcomas but may be difficult in conventional histology. The present study focuses on the expression and possible diagnostic impact of two PAT family proteins, perilipin 1/perilipin and perilipin 2/adipophilin in human liposarcomas. Eighty-seven cases of liposarcomas and 30 cases of non-lipomatous sarcomas were investigated immunohistochemically for perilipin 1 and 2 using entire tissue sections. Statistical analyses were performed using appropriate tests. Most liposarcomas and non-lipomatous sarcomas displayed positivity for perilipin 2. In contrast, while more than two-thirds of liposarcomas presented perilipin 1 positivity, all non-lipomatous sarcomas studied were negative for this marker, with statistical significance (p<0.001). Perilipin 1 expression increased with adipocytic differentiation of liposarcoma subtypes showing statistical significance (p<0.001). Non-lipomatous sarcomas demonstrated variable expression levels of perilipin 2. The expression level of perilipin 2 appeared to be correlated with tumor cell degeneration, e.g., through hypoxia. Perilipin 2 is not well suitable for distinction between liposarcomas and non-lipomatous sarcomas. However, perilipin 1 appeared to be a highly specific marker for liposarcoma and adipocytic differentiation in sarcomas with intermediate sensitivity.

A Study of Lipid Interactions for the exchangeable PAT protein, Perilipin 3

Perilipin 3 (TIP 47) is a ubiquitously expressed PAT family protein carrying a C-terminal amphipathic α-helix bundle. In this work we focus on the mechanism of lipid binding by perilipin 3. Perilipin 3 associates with growing lipid droplets (LDs) and not with cellular membranes in vivo but the mechanism behind this specificity is not clear. We used several N-terminal truncation mutants as well as the full length perilipin 3 protein to investigate its lipid binding properties. Lipid monolayers at the air – buffer interface were used to study the lipid binding properties of all these constructs. Since monolayers are incredibly sensitive to surface active contaminants we had to purify large quantities of recombinant protein in order to carry out this work. The insertion of perilipin 3 into lipid monolayers was monitored by the increase in surface pressure of the lipid monolayer after injecting the proteins beneath a (phospho-)lipid monolayer. By systematically varying the lipid composition of the lipid monolayer we address the type of interactions responsible for perilipin 3 – LD interaction. This work addresses the types of interactions responsible for perilipin 3 – lipid insertion and also of the role of amphipathic α-helix bundles in lipid binding. We provide a model that describes the interactions responsible for perilipin 3 – LD interaction that help explain what sets this protein apart from other phospholipid membrane binding proteins.

Oleuropein reduces free fatty acid-induced lipogenesis via lowered extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation in hepatocytes

Oleuropein, a bitter glucoside found in green olive leaves, and its metabolite hydroxytyrosol display powerful antioxidant activity both in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we hypothesized that the antioxidant activity of oleuropein could attenuate hepatic steatosis. To test this hypothesis, we established steatotic hepatocytes using HepG2 and FL83B cells treated with free fatty acids (FFAs) (oleate:palmitate, 2:1). To confirm hepatic steatosis, the intracellular lipid levels were quantitatively measured by Nile Red staining, and the sizes and distributions of lipid droplets were visualized by transmission electron microscopy. The expression of PAT family proteins as well as of adipose differentiation-related protein and tail interacting protein (TIP47) was evaluated by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting. To examine the cellular and molecular events associated with oleuropein, annexin V/propidium iodide staining and immunoblotting were performed. Oleuropein decreased the number and size of lipid droplets in FFA-treated cells and reduced intracellular triglyceride accumulation. However, it did not affect the expression of lipid droplets-associated PAT family proteins, including adipose differentiation-related protein and TIP47. In addition, oleuropein reduced FFA-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase activation but had no effect on c-Jun N-terminal kinase or AKT activation. Given its protective effects against FFA-induced hepatocellular steatosis, oleuropein may be a lipid-lowering agent.

Lipid homeostasis and the formation of macrophage-derived foam cells in atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a chronic, inflammatory disorder characterized by the deposition of excess lipids in the arterial intima. The formation of macrophage-derived foam cells in a plaque is a hallmark of the development of atherosclerosis. Lipid homeostasis, especially cholesterol homeostasis, plays a crucial role during the formation of foam cells. Recently, lipid droplet-associated proteins, including PAT and CIDE family proteins, have been shown to control the development of atherosclerosis by regulating the formation, growth, stabilization and functions of lipid droplets in macrophage-derived foam cells. This review focuses on the potential mechanisms of formation of macrophage-derived foam cells in atherosclerosis with particular emphasis on the role of lipid homeostasis and lipid droplet-associated proteins. Understanding the process of foam cell formation will aid in the future discovery of novel therapeutic interventions for atherosclerosis.

Hormone Signaling Linked to Silkmoth Sex Pheromone Biosynthesis Involves Ca2+/Calmodulin-dependent Protein Kinase II-mediated Phosphorylation of the Insect PAT Family Protein Bombyx mori Lipid Storage Droplet Protein-1 (BmLsd1)

Species-specific sex pheromones released by female moths to attract conspecific male moths are synthesized de novo in the pheromone gland (PG) via the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway. This pathway is regulated by a neurohormone termed pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide (PBAN), a 33-amino acid peptide that originates in the subesophageal ganglion. In the silkmoth, Bombyx mori, cytoplasmic lipid droplets, which store the sex pheromone (bombykol) precursor fatty acid, accumulate in PG cells. PBAN stimulates lipolysis of the stored lipid droplet triacylglycerols (TAGs) and releases the precursor for final modification. PBAN exerts its physiological function via the PG cell-surface PBAN receptor, a G protein-coupled receptor that belongs to the neuromedin U receptor family. The PBAN receptor-mediated signal is transmitted via a canonical store-operated channel activation pathway utilizing Gq-mediated phospholipase C activation (Hull, J. J., Kajigaya, R., Imai, K., and Matsumoto, S. (2007) Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 71, 1993-2001; Hull, J. J., Lee, J. M., Kajigaya, R., and Matsumoto, S. (2009) J. Biol. Chem. 284, 31200-31213; Hull, J. J., Lee, J. M., and Matsumoto, S. (2010) Insect Mol. Biol. 19, 553-566). Little, however, is known about the molecular components regulating TAG lipolysis in PG cells. In the current study we found that PBAN signaling involves phosphorylation of an insect PAT family protein named B. mori lipid storage droplet protein-1 (BmLsd1) and that BmLsd1 plays an essential role in the TAG lipolysis associated with bombykol production. Unlike mammalian PAT family perilipins, however, BmLsd1 activation is dependent on phosphorylation by B. mori Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II rather than protein kinase A.

Cloning, structural characterization and expression analysis of a novel lipid storage droplet protein-1 (LSD-1) gene in Chinese honeybee (Apis cerana cerana)

Lipid storage droplet 1 (LSD-1), a PAT family protein located around lipid droplets in insects, is intimately linked to lipid droplets formation and lipid metabolism. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and rosiglitazone (Rosi) have previously been shown to modulate the expression of several PAT family proteins through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ). In the present study, we isolated and characterized a novel LSD-1 gene, referred to AccLSD-1, from Chinese honeybee (Apis cerana cerana). Sequence analysis indicated that the central region of LSD-1 protein had significant sequence similarity and a typical LSD-1 gene was composed of 8 exons and 7 introns. Interestingly, the first intron of AccLSD-1 including several PPARγ-response elements (PPREs) was located in 5' UTR. Analysis of 5'-flanking region of AccLSD-1 revealed a number of putative cis-acting elements, including three PPREs. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that AccLSD-1 expressed ubiquitously from feeding larva to adult, and its expression level was highest at brown-eyed pupae (Pb) stage. The effect of CLA, Rosi and combination on AccLSD-1 expressions indicated 1% CLA and 0.5 mg/ml Rosi were considered as the suitable diets for rearing adult workers in laboratory, and AccLSD-1 was down-regulated by CLA whereas up-regulated by Rosi. Furthermore, the combination of CLA and Rosi remarkly rescued the suppression of AccLSD-1 expression by CLA alone. These results suggest that AccLSD-1 is associated with A. cerana cerana development, especially during pupal metamorphosis, and can be regulated by CLA or Rosi possibly via activating PPARγ.

Topography of Lipid Droplet-Associated Proteins: Insights from Freeze-Fracture Replica Immunogold Labeling

Lipid droplets are not merely storage depots for superfluous intracellular lipids in times of hyperlipidemic stress, but metabolically active organelles involved in cellular homeostasis. Our concepts on the metabolic functions of lipid droplets have come from studies on lipid droplet-associated proteins. This realization has made the study of proteins, such as PAT family proteins, caveolins, and several others that are targeted to lipid droplets, an intriguing and rapidly developing area of intensive inquiry. Our existing understanding of the structure, protein organization, and biogenesis of the lipid droplet has relied heavily on microscopical techniques that lack resolution and the ability to preserve native cellular and protein composition. Freeze-fracture replica immunogold labeling overcomes these disadvantages and can be used to define at high resolution the precise location of lipid droplet-associated proteins. In this paper illustrative examples of how freeze-fracture immunocytochemistry has contributed to our understanding of the spatial organization in the membrane plane and function of PAT family proteins and caveolin-1 are presented. By revisiting the lipid droplet with freeze-fracture immunocytochemistry, new perspectives have emerged which challenge prevailing concepts of lipid droplet biology and may hopefully provide a timely impulse for many ongoing studies.

Cloning and characterization of a new gene from the PAT protein family, in a marsupial, the stripe‐faced dunnart (Sminthopsis macroura)

Recent studies of PAT proteins in Drosophila and Xenopus have revealed significant roles for this family of proteins in the polarized transport of lipid droplets and maternal determinants during early embryogenesis. In mammals, PAT proteins are known to function mainly in lipid metabolism, yet research has yet to establish a role for PAT proteins in mammalian embryogenesis. Oocytes and early cleavage stages in Sminthopsis macroura show obvious polarized cytoplasmic distribution of organelles, somewhat similar to Drosophila and Xenopus, suggesting that a PAT protein may also be involved in S. macroura embryonic development. In the present study, we identified a new marsupial gene for PAT family proteins, DPAT, from S. macroura. Expression analyses by RT-PCR and whole mount fluorescent in situ hybridization revealed that DPAT expression was specific to oocytes and cleavage stage conceptuses. Analysis of the localization of lipid droplets during S. macroura early embryonic development found a polarized distribution of lipid droplets at the two- and four-cell stage, and an asymmetric enrichment in blastomeres on one side of conceptuses from two- to eight-cell stage. Lipid droplets largely segregate to pluriblast cells at the 16-cell stage, suggesting a role in pluriblast lineage allocation.

TIP47, a Lipid Cargo Protein Involved in Macrophage Triglyceride Metabolism

Uptake of lipids by macrophages (MPhi) leads to lipid droplet accumulation and foam cell formation. The PAT family proteins are implicated in lipid droplet formation, but the precise function of the 47-kDa tail interacting protein (TIP47), a member of this family, is poorly defined. The present study was performed to determine the function of TIP47 in MPhi lipid metabolism. Freeze-fracture cytochemistry demonstrates that TIP47 is present in the plasma membrane of MPhi and is aggregated into clusters when the cells are incubated with oleate. Suppression of adipophilin levels using siRNA knockdown leads to migration of TIP47 from a cytoplasmic pool to the lipid droplet. Further, reduction of TIP47 decreases triglyceride levels, whereas raising TIP47 levels by expression of EGFP-TIP47 shows the opposite effect. Our results show that the TIP47 protein levels directly correlate with triglyceride levels. We propose that TIP47 may act as a carrier protein for free fatty acids and in this way participates in conversion of MPhi into foam cells.

Expression of Perilipin and Adipophilin in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Relevance to Oxidative Injury and Hepatocyte Ballooning

Perilipin and adipophilin, PAT family proteins, play important roles in lipid metabolism. Although nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is initiated by hepatocyte lipidation, little is known about the relationship between these proteins and hepatocellular injury. We investigated the expressions of perilipin and adipophilin and their relation to inflammation, fibrosis, hepatocellular ballooning, and oxidized phosphatidylcholine (oxPC) localization in human NAFLD. Liver biopsies of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH, n=39) or simple steatosis (n=9) were studied by immunohistochemical techniques using anti-perilipin, anti-adipophilin and anti-oxPC antibodies. The severity of liver damage was histologically assessed by the Brunt system and NAFLD activity score (NAS). Enlarged hepatocytes usually containing Mallory-Denk bodies were defined as ballooned. Perilipin and adipophilin were detected on the rim of lipid droplets in both NASH and simple steatosis. Perilipin was more evident in larger lipid droplets while adipophilin expression was frequent in lipid droplets of ballooned hepatocytes. The frequency of adipophilin-positive ballooned hepatocytes was correlated to inflammation (Rs=0.72, p<0.0001), fibrosis (Rs=0.46, p=0.005), NAS (Rs=0.47, p=0.004) and oxPC-positive ballooned hepatocytes (Rs=0.35, p=0.033). Expression patterns of perilipin and adipophilin in NASH livers varied with the size of lipid droplets. In partiew or, adipophilin expression in ballooned hepatocytes was closely associated with oxidative damage.

Intracellular lipid droplet targeting by apolipoprotein A-V requires the carboxyl-terminal segment

The expression of apolipoprotein A-V (apoA-V) in hepatoma cells results in homing of this protein to intracellular lipid droplets. When hepatoma cells transfected with a full-length apoA-V-green fluorescent protein fusion protein were cultured in medium that was not supplemented with oleic acid (OA), intracellular lipid droplet size and number were reduced compared with those of cells supplemented with OA. Confocal microscopy studies revealed that apoA-V associates with lipid droplets under both conditions. To define the structural requirements for apoA-V lipid droplet association, hepatoma cells were transfected with a series of C-terminal truncated apoA-V variants. Confocal microscopy analysis revealed that, in a manner similar to mature full-length apoA-V (343 amino acids), truncation variants apoA-V(1-292), apoA-V(1-237), and apoA-V(1-191) associated with lipid droplets, while apoA-V(1-146) did not. Western blot analysis of the relative abundance of apoA-V in cell lysates versus conditioned medium indicated that apoA-V variants associated with lipid droplets were poorly secreted while apoA-V(1-146) was efficiently secreted. Ultracentrifugation of conditioned medium revealed that, unlike full-length apoA-V, which associates with lipoproteins, apoA-V(1-146) was present solely in the lipoprotein-deficient fraction. Deletion of the N-terminal signal peptide from apoA-V resulted in an inability of the protein to be secreted into the medium, although it associated with lipid droplets. Taken together, these data suggest that the C terminus of apoA-V is essential for lipid droplet association in transfected hepatoma cells and lipoprotein association in conditioned medium while the signal peptide is required for extracellular trafficking of this protein.

GFP‐tagged proteins visualized by freeze‐fracture immuno‐electron microscopy: a new tool in cellular and molecular medicine

GFP-tagging is widely used as a molecular tool to localize and visualize the trafficking of proteins in cells but interpretation is frequently limited by the low resolution afforded by fluorescence light microscopy. Although complementary thin-section immunogold electron microscopic techniques go some way in aiding interpretation, major limitations, such as relatively poor structural preservation of membrane systems, low labelling efficiency and the two-dimensional nature of the images, remain. Here we demonstrate that the electron microscopic technique freeze-fracture replica immunogold labelling overcomes these disadvantages and can be used to define, at high resolution, the precise location of GFP-tagged proteins in specific membrane systems and organelles of the cell. Moreover, this technique provides information on the location of the protein within the phospholipid bilayer, potentially providing insight into mis-orientation of tagged proteins compared to their untagged counterparts. Complementary application of the freeze-fracture replica immunogold labelling technique alongside conventional fluorescence microscopy is seen as a novel and valuable approach to verification, clarification and extension of the data obtained using fluorescent-tagged proteins. The application of this approach is illustrated by new findings on PAT-family proteins tagged with GFP transfected into fibroblasts from patients with Niemann-Pick type C disease.

Decrease in intramuscular lipid droplets and translocation of HSL in response to muscle contraction and epinephrine

A better understanding of skeletal muscle lipid metabolism is needed to identify the molecular mechanisms relating intramuscular triglyceride (IMTG) to muscle metabolism and insulin sensitivity. An increasing number of proteins have been reported to be associated with intracellular triglyceride (TG), among them the PAT family members: perilipin, ADRP (for adipocyte differentiation-related protein), and TIP47 (for tail-interacting protein of 47 kDa). Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) is thought to be the major enzyme responsible for IMTG hydrolysis in skeletal muscle. In adipocytes, regulation of HSL by intracellular redistribution has been demonstrated. The existence of such regulatory mechanisms in skeletal muscle has long been hypothesized but has never been demonstrated. The aim of this study was to characterize the PAT family proteins associated with IMTG and to investigate the effect of epinephrine stimulation or muscle contraction on skeletal muscle TG content and HSL intracellular distribution. Rat soleus muscles were either incubated with epinephrine or electrically stimulated for 15 min. Single muscle fibers were used for morphological analysis by confocal and transmission electron microscopy. We show a decrease in IMTG in response to both lipolytic stimuli. Furthermore, we identify two PAT family proteins, ADRP and TIP47, associated with IMTG. Finally, we demonstrate HSL translocation to IMTG and ADRP after stimulation with epinephrine or contraction.

Eukaryotic Lipid Body Proteins in Oleogenous Actinomycetes and Their Targeting to Intracellular Triacylglycerol Inclusions: Impact on Models of Lipid Body Biogenesis

Bacterial neutral lipid inclusions are structurally related to eukaryotic lipid bodies. These lipid inclusions are composed of a matrix of triacylglycerols (TAGs) or wax esters surrounded by a monolayer of phospholipids. Whereas the monolayers of lipid bodies from animal and plant cells harbor specific classes of proteins which are involved in the structure of the inclusions and lipid homoestasis, no such proteins are known to be associated with bacterial lipid inclusions. The present study was undertaken to reveal whether the mammalian lipid body proteins perilipin A, adipose differentiation-related protein, and tail-interacting protein of 47 kDa (TIP47), which comprise the so called PAT family proteins, and the maize (Zea mays L.) oleosin are targeted to prokaryotic TAG bodies in vivo. When fused to enhanced green fluorescent protein, all proteins except the oleosin were mainly located at the surfaces of lipid inclusions when heterologously expressed in the recombinant actinomycetes Rhodococcus opacus PD630 and Mycobacterium smegmatis mc(2)155. A more detailed intracellular distribution analysis of TIP47 in recombinant R. opacus cells by immunocytochemical labeling of ultrathin cryosections and freeze fracture replicas revealed a substantial amount of TIP47 protein also pervading the cores of the inclusions. We discuss the impact of these results on the current model of lipid body biogenesis in prokaryotes.

Adipophilin-enriched domains in the ER membrane are sites of lipid droplet biogenesis

The prevailing hypothesis of lipid droplet biogenesis proposes that neutral lipids accumulate within the lipid bilayer of the ER membrane from where they are budded off, enclosed by a protein-bearing phospholipid monolayer originating from the cytoplasmic leaflet of the ER membrane. We have used a variety of methods to investigate the nature of the sites of ER-lipid-droplet association in order to gain new insights into the mechanism of lipid droplet formation and growth. The three-dimensional perspectives provided by freeze-fracture electron microscopy demonstrate unequivocally that at sites of close association, the lipid droplet is not situated within the ER membrane; rather, both ER membranes lie external to and follow the contour of the lipid droplet, enclosing it in a manner akin to an egg cup (the ER) holding an egg (the lipid droplet). Freeze-fracture cytochemistry demonstrates that the PAT family protein adipophilin is concentrated in prominent clusters in the cytoplasmic leaflet of the ER membrane closely apposed to the lipid droplet envelope. We identify these structures as sites at which lipids and adipophilin are transferred from ER membranes to lipid droplets. These findings call for a re-evaluation of the prevailing hypothesis of lipid droplet biogenesis.