Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 13, 2026

Lipid Droplet Isolation for Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Analysis
Published on: April 17, 2017
LipoID profiles lipid droplet interactions and identifies interorganelle regulators
Hengke Guo1, Wang Wan1, Yanan Huang2
1State Key Laboratory of Medical Proteomics, National Chromatographic R. & A. Center, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, China.
None:
Lipid droplets (LDs) dynamically interact with other organelles, such as mitochondria, in surveillance of cellular metabolic homeostasis. The transient nature of LDs, however, poses technical challenges to snapshot molecular information underlying these interactions. Herein, we present a small-molecule-based photocatalytic protein proximity labeling method (named LipoID) to enable in situ labeling, capturing and profiling of the LD-interacting proteome. This method is enabled by a set of LD-targeting probes designed to catalyze protein modifications nearby LDs using nucleophilic substrates. Profiled by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, LipoID identifies tethered interorganellar interactions, particularly with mitochondria, in addition to reliable capture of validated LD biomarkers (for example, perilipins (PLINs)). Coupled with comparative proteomics, LipoID discovers mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel 3 as a potential regulator of LD-mitochondria proximity through interacting with PLIN3 on LDs. Further metabolomics analysis suggested remodeled lipid metabolism in line with the LD-mitochondria interaction. Together, LipoID enables in situ profiling of the LD interactome and reveals interorganellar regulation.
Related Concept Videos
Membrane Domains
Protein Domains
The membrane comprises a group of distinct proteins responsible for carrying out a cell's specific function. For example, the plasma membrane of the human sperm, or a single germ cell, contains a unique set of proteins in the...
Membrane Fluidity
Mosaic nature of the membrane
The mosaic characteristic of the membrane helps the plasma membrane remain fluid. The integral proteins and lipids exist as separate but loosely-attached molecules in the membrane. The membrane is...
Membrane Fluidity
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer
Mechanisms of Membrane Domain Formation
Another mechanism for membrane domain formation involves membrane proteins interacting with...
Phosphoinositides and PIPs
Different phosphoinositides are synthesized and recruited on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. The localization of specific phosphoinositides concentrated in separate membrane...

