Important advances in the knowledge of lipid droplets in the last six decades

Abstract

Lipid droplets are highly dynamic cytoplasmic (and nuclear) cell organelles composed of a core of neutral lipids (triglycerides (TG) and cholesterol ester (CE)) surrounded by a monolayer of phospholipids with embedded proteins. Lipid droplets accomplish different functions, including serving as energy and membrane precursor reservoirs or as protein deposits. Additionally, through the uptake of lipids, they defend cells from lipotoxicity, liberate lipids as signaling molecules, and are implicated in protein degradation and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress responses. In the last six decades, the significance of lipid droplets in biological systems began to be widely explored; the most important hand marks in the knowledge of lipid droplets are described in this chapter.