Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 17, 2026

Isolation of Cellular Lipid Droplets: Two Purification Techniques Starting from Yeast Cells and Human Placentas
Published on: April 1, 2014
Rab proteins as regulators of lipid droplet formation and lipolysis
Chunman Li1, Sidney S B Yu2,3
1School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Abstract:
Lipid droplets (LDs) are highly dynamic organelles that not only store neutral lipids but also are involved in multiple cellular processes. Dysregulation of lipogenesis or lipolysis greatly contributes to the pathogenesis of several human diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and fatty liver disease. Rab proteins have been found to be associated with LDs in proteomic studies and are also known to extensively regulate intracellular membrane traffic, suggesting that LDs actively communicate with other membrane compartments to maintain energy homeostasis. This review discusses recent studies that provide mechanistic insights into the regulation of LD formation and catabolism by Rab proteins in mammalian cells.
Related Concept Videos
Regulation of Nuclear Protein Sorting
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway
Regulation of the Unfolded Protein Response
Overview of Lipid Metabolism
Lipolysis: The Breakdown of Lipids:
Lipolysis is the process of breaking down lipids, particularly triglycerides, into glycerol and fatty acids. This process typically occurs in the adipose tissue and is triggered by various hormones, including glucagon and...
Rab Proteins
Rab proteins switch between a cytosolic, GDP-bound inactive state and a membrane-anchored, GTP-bound active state. By themselves, Rabs show slow rates of GDP/GTP exchange and GTP hydrolysis. Thus, Rab proteins are considered...
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway

