Proteomic insights into an expanded cellular role for cytoplasmic lipid droplets

Cytoplasmic lipid droplets (CLDs) are cellular structures composed of a neutral lipid core surrounded by a phospholipid monolayer of amphipathic lipids and a variety of proteins. CLDs have classically been regarded as cellular energy storage structures. However, recent proteomic studies reveal that, although many of the proteins found to associate with CLDs are connected to lipid metabolism, storage, and homeostasis, there are also proteins with no obvious connection to the classical function and typically associated with other cellular compartments. Such proteins are termed refugee proteins, and their presence suggests that CLDs may serve an expanded role as a dynamic protein storage site, providing a novel mechanism for the regulation of protein function and transport.