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Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Isolation of Cellular Lipid Droplets: Two Purification Techniques Starting from Yeast Cells and Human Placentas
Published on: April 1, 2014
Recent advances in understanding proteins involved in lipid droplet formation, growth and fusion
Jolene S Y Tan1, Colin J P Seow1, Vera J Goh1
1Signature Research Program in Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disorders, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore, Singapore 169857, Singapore.
Abstract:
Lipid droplets (LDs) were once viewed as simple, inert lipid micelles. However, they are now known to be organelles with a rich proteome involved in a myriad of cellular processes. LDs are heterogeneous in nature with different sizes and compositions of phospholipids, neutral lipids and proteins. This review takes a focused look at the roles of proteins involved in the regulation of LD formation, expansion, and morphology. The related proteins are summarized such as the fat-specific protein (Fsp27), fat storage-inducing transmembrane (FIT) proteins, seipin and ADP-ribosylation factor 1-coat protein complex I (Arf-COPI). Finally, we present important challenges in LD biology for a deeper understanding of this dynamic organelle to be achieved.
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