Characterization of the Drosophila Lipid Droplet Subproteome

Abstract

Lipid storage droplets are universal organelles essential for the cellular and organismal lipometabolism including energy homeostasis. Despite their apparently simple design they are proposed to participate in a growing number of cellular processes, raising the question to what extent the functional multifariousness is reflected by a complex organellar proteome composition. Here we present 248 proteins identified in a subproteome analysis using lipid storage droplets of Drosophila melanogaster fat body tissue. In addition to previously known lipid droplet-associated PAT (Perilipin, ADRP, and TIP47) domain proteins and homologues of several mammalian lipid droplet proteins, this study identified a number of proteins of diverse biological function, including intracellular trafficking supportive of the dynamic and multifaceted character of these organelles. We performed intracellular localization studies on selected newly identified subproteome members both in tissue culture cells and in fat body cells directly. The results suggest that the lipid droplets of fat body cells are of combinatorial protein composition. We propose that subsets of lipid droplets within single cells are characterized by a protein "zip code," which reflects functional differences or specific metabolic states.

Proteomic Study and Marker Protein Identification of Caenorhabditis elegans Lipid Droplets

“…The densest cluster (upper cluster) consists of 53 ribosome proteins. Identification of ribosome proteins on LDs has also been reported in some early LD proteomic studies in humans (12), yeast (10), and Drosophila (18). This finding suggests that LDs may provide a surface for ribosomes where certain proteins can be efficiently synthesized.…”

Analysis of the Zebrafish Proteome during Embryonic Development

“…Sequencing of the genome has fostered various initiatives to catalog the proteome of genetic model organisms such as yeast (37), Caenorhabditis elegans (38), Drosophila (39,40), and the mouse (41). Similarly a collaborative program has been established to explore systematically the human proteome (42,43).…”

Specialization of Oleosins in Oil Body Dynamics during Seed Development in Arabidopsis Seeds

“…Accumulation of lipids occurs in many eukaryotic cells and is a rather common means of storing carbon and energy. Lipid droplets (LDs) can be found in all eukaryotes, such as yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Leber et al, 1994), mammals (Murphy, 2001;Hodges and Wu, 2010), Caenorhabditis elegans (Zhang et al, 2010;Mak, 2012), Drosophila melanogaster (Beller et al, 2006(Beller et al, , 2010, and plants (Hsieh and Huang, 2004), but also in prokaryotes (Wältermann et al, 2005). The basic structure of an LD is a core of neutral lipids covered by a phospholipid monolayer.…”