Neuronal lipid droplets play a conserved and sex-biased role in maintaining whole-body energy homeostasis.

ABSTRACT: Lipids are essential for neuron development and physiology. Yet, the central hubs that coordinate lipid supply and demand in neurons remain unclear. Here, we combine invertebrate and vertebrate models to establish the presence and functional significance of neuronal lipid droplets (LD) in vivo. We find that LD are normally present in neurons in a non-uniform distribution across the brain, and demonstrate triglyceride metabolism enzymes and lipid droplet-associated proteins control neuronal LD formation through both canonical and recently-discovered pathways. Appropriate LD regulation in neurons has conserved and male-biased effects on whole-body energy homeostasis across flies and mice, specifically neurons that couple environmental cues with energy homeostasis. Mechanistically, LD-

SUBMITTER: Manceau R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11429983 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature