Fig. 1: Lipid droplets biogenesis.
From: Microglial lipid droplets as therapeutic targets in age-related neurodegenerative diseases
Lipid droplets (LDs) originate from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) through the enzymatic esterification of neutral lipids. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs and PUFAs) are first converted to acyl-CoA by long-chain acyl-CoA synthetases (ACSL). Acyl-CoA serves as a substrate for the synthesis of triacylglycerol (TAG) via diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) from diacylglycerol (DAG), and for cholesterol ester (CE) synthesis via acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) from free cholesterol. These neutral lipids accumulate between the leaflets of the ER membrane, where they coalesce and bud off into the cytoplasm as LDs coated with perilipins (PLINs). This process enables the storage of energy-dense lipids and regulates lipid homeostasis within the cell. Created with Biorender.com.
