Sterols are required for the coordinated assembly of lipid droplets in developing seeds

Linhui Yu, Jilian Fan, Chao Zhou and Changcheng Xu ()
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Linhui Yu: Biology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory
Jilian Fan: Biology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory
Chao Zhou: Biology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory
Changcheng Xu: Biology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract Lipid droplets (LDs) are intracellular organelles critical for energy storage and lipid metabolism. They are typically composed of an oil core coated by a monolayer of phospholipids and proteins such as oleosins. The mechanistic details of LD biogenesis remain poorly defined. However, emerging evidence suggest that their formation is a spatiotemporally regulated process, occurring at specific sites of the endoplasmic reticulum defined by a specific set of lipids and proteins. Here, we show that sterols are required for formation of oleosin-coated LDs in Arabidopsis. Analysis of sterol pathway mutants revealed that deficiency in several ∆5-sterols accounts for the phenotype. Importantly, mutants deficient in these sterols also display reduced LD number, increased LD size and reduced oil content in seeds. Collectively, our data reveal a role of sterols in coordinating the synthesis of oil and oleosins and their assembly into LDs, highlighting the importance of membrane lipids in regulating LD biogenesis.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25908-6

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