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Accumulation of squalene is associated with the clustering of lipid droplets
Author(s) -
Ta Minh T.,
Kapterian Tamar S.,
Fei Weihua,
Du Ximing,
Brown Andrew J.,
Dawes Ian W.,
Yang Hongyuan
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the febs journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.981
H-Index - 204
eISSN - 1742-4658
pISSN - 1742-464X
DOI - 10.1111/febs.12015
Subject(s) - squalene , squalene monooxygenase , lipid droplet , sterol , biochemistry , chemistry , yeast , mutant , saccharomyces cerevisiae , lipid metabolism , biosynthesis , cholesterol , biology , biophysics , enzyme , gene
The isoprenoid squalene is an important precursor for the biosynthesis of sterols. The cellular storage of squalene and its impact on membrane properties have been the subject of recent investigations. In a screen for abnormal lipid droplet morphology and distribution in the yeast S accharomyces cerevisiae , we found significant lipid droplet clustering (arbitrarily defined as an aggregation of six or more lipid droplets) in a number of mutants (e.g. erg1 ) that are defective in sterol biosynthesis. Interestingly, these mutants are also characterized by accumulation of large amounts of squalene. Reducing the level of squalene in these mutants restored normal lipid droplet distribution. Moreover, inhibition of squalene monooxygenase in two mammalian cell lines ( CHO ‐ K 1 and 3 T 3‐ L 1) by terbinafine also resulted in lipid droplet clustering. These results indicate that the level of squalene may affect the growth and distribution of lipid droplets.