Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Lipid Digestion01:06

Lipid Digestion

99.0K
Lipids are large molecules that are generally not water-soluble. Since most of the digestive enzymes in the human body are water-based, there are specific steps the body must take to break down lipids and make them available for use.
99.0K
What are Lipids?01:38

What are Lipids?

219.5K
Overview
219.5K
What are Lipids?01:31

What are Lipids?

10.8K
Lipids function as structural components of cellular membranes, in addition to acting as energy reservoirs and signaling molecules. They are thus crucial to all living organisms.  The three biologically important classes of lipids are triglycerides, phospholipids, and steroids.
Non-Polar and Hydrophobic Characteristics of Lipids
Lipids are a structurally and functionally diverse group of hydrocarbons—compounds consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms. The carbon-carbon and...
10.8K
Structure of Lipids03:38

Structure of Lipids

98.5K
Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are largely nonpolar in nature. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include mostly nonpolar carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of fats. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals. For example, they help keep aquatic...
98.5K
Lipid Catabolism01:25

Lipid Catabolism

894
Triglycerides serve as crucial long-term energy storage molecules in microorganisms, providing a dense source of metabolic energy. Their breakdown is mediated by lipases, which hydrolyze triglycerides into glycerol and free fatty acids. Each of these components follows distinct metabolic pathways, ultimately contributing to ATP synthesis and cellular energy homeostasis.Glycerol MetabolismGlycerol, released from triglyceride hydrolysis, is phosphorylated by glycerol kinase to form...
894
Lipids as Anchors01:32

Lipids as Anchors

7.2K
In the plasma membrane, the lipids forming the bilayer can also act as an anchor to tether proteins to the membrane. The three main types of lipid anchors found in eukaryotes are – prenyl groups, fatty acyl groups, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol or GPI groups. Prenyl and fatty acyl groups act as anchors on the cytosolic surface of the membrane, whereas GPI anchors proteins on the extracellular side.
The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains...
7.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Eukaryote-Wide Distribution of a Family of Longin Domain-Containing GAP Complexes for Small GTPases.

Traffic (Copenhagen, Denmark)·2025
Same author

The Asgard archaeal origins of Arf family GTPases involved in eukaryotic organelle dynamics.

Nature microbiology·2025
Same author

An evolutionary perspective on Arf family GTPases.

Current opinion in cell biology·2024
Same author

Correction: The ARF exchange factors Gea1p and Gea2p regulate Golgi structure and function in yeast.

Journal of cell science·2019
Same author

Functional and Physical Interaction between the Arf Activator GBF1 and Hepatitis C Virus NS3 Protein.

Journal of virology·2018
Same author

GBF1 and Arf1 interact with Miro and regulate mitochondrial positioning within cells.

Scientific reports·2018
Same journal

Mechanosensing in immune cells: Implications for migration and beyond.

Current opinion in cell biology·2026
Same journal

Emerging role of organelles in cell migration.

Current opinion in cell biology·2026
Same journal

Nuclear adaptation in cell migration.

Current opinion in cell biology·2026
Same journal

Patterns in motion: Choreographing dynamic cell behaviours during tissue repair.

Current opinion in cell biology·2026
Same journal

Quo vadis reconstituted cell surfaces? Purpose and future perspectives for minimal systems of the cell plasma membrane.

Current opinion in cell biology·2026
Same journal

Nuclear determinants of mRNA and protein isoforms.

Current opinion in cell biology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 25, 2026

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy
07:20

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy

Published on: January 31, 2025

1.2K

Lipid droplet biogenesis.

Catherine L Jackson1

  • 1Institut Jacques Monod, UMR7592 CNRS Université Paris-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.

Current Opinion in Cell Biology
|May 11, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Lipid droplets (LDs) are energy storage organelles originating from the ER. Key proteins and specific ER sites regulate their formation and maturation, crucial for cellular function.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Analysis of Fluorescent-Stained Lipid Droplets with 3D Reconstruction for Hepatic Steatosis Assessment
07:12

Author Spotlight: Analysis of Fluorescent-Stained Lipid Droplets with 3D Reconstruction for Hepatic Steatosis Assessment

Published on: June 2, 2023

8.5K
Lipid Droplet Isolation for Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Analysis
10:23

Lipid Droplet Isolation for Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Analysis

Published on: April 17, 2017

10.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 25, 2026

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy
07:20

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy

Published on: January 31, 2025

1.2K
Author Spotlight: Analysis of Fluorescent-Stained Lipid Droplets with 3D Reconstruction for Hepatic Steatosis Assessment
07:12

Author Spotlight: Analysis of Fluorescent-Stained Lipid Droplets with 3D Reconstruction for Hepatic Steatosis Assessment

Published on: June 2, 2023

8.5K
Lipid Droplet Isolation for Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Analysis
10:23

Lipid Droplet Isolation for Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Analysis

Published on: April 17, 2017

10.7K

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Lipid droplets (LDs) are cellular organelles storing neutral lipids, essential for energy homeostasis.
  • Unlike other organelles, LDs possess a hydrophobic core enclosed by a phospholipid monolayer, originating from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms governing lipid droplet biogenesis and maturation.
  • To identify key protein families and cellular structures involved in LD formation.

Main Methods:

  • Biophysical analysis and modeling
  • In vitro reconstitution assays
  • Cell biological analyses including cryo-electron microscopy and high-resolution imaging

Main Results:

  • Identified four crucial protein families (seipin, perilipins, FIT, ER shaping proteins) in LD biogenesis.
  • Discovered that LDs form at specialized ER sites marked by Pex30/MCTP2.
  • Uncovered new functions for perilipins and FIT proteins.
  • Elucidated seipin's role in LD biogenesis, particularly its regulation of ER-LD contact sites with Rab18 and NRZ.

Conclusions:

  • Lipid droplet biogenesis is a complex process involving specific proteins and ER domains.
  • ER-LD contact sites are critical for the formation and maturation of lipid droplets.